Ferrules, alignment frames and connectors

ABSTRACT

Ferrules, alignment frames and connectors having at least one flexing element are provided. A ferrule or an alignment frame may include a body and first and second flexible arms, and a connector may include the ferrule or the alignment frame. A ferrule may have a first flexible arm that has a first fixed end attached to a first side of the body of the ferrule and an opposite first free end, and may have a second flexible arm having a second fixed end attached to a second side of the body, opposite the first side, and an opposite second free end. When the ferrule is mated with a mating ferrule, the first and second flexible arms are flexed away from the respective first and second sides of the body, and the first and second free ends contact the mating ferrule.

BACKGROUND

Alignment of electrical or optical components can be achieved by usingpin and sleeve connectors, for example. The accuracy of the alignment ofthe two components is typically limited to the accumulated tolerances ofall the alignment features on both components. Tight tolerances aretypically required in conventional connectors in order to achievesatisfactory alignment accuracy.

Optical connectors can include optical ferrules that include elementsfor receiving and securing optical waveguides, elements for affectinglight from the optical waveguides, and features for aligning the opticalferrule to a mating ferrule.

SUMMARY

In some aspects of the present description, an optical ferrule includinga body; a first flexible arm having a first fixed end attached to afirst side of the body and an opposite first free end; and a secondflexible arm, opposite the first flexible arm, having a second fixed endattached to a second side of the body, opposite the first side, and anopposite second free end is provided. The body includes an opticallytransparent portion for propagating an optical signal therein. When theoptical ferrule is mated with a mating ferrule, the first and secondflexible arms are flexed away from the respective first and second sidesof the body, and the first and second free ends contact the matingferrule.

In some aspects of the present an optical connector including a housing;one or more alignment features attached to the housing for engaging acorresponding one or more alignment features attached to a housing of amating connector; and a unitary optical ferrule at least partiallydisposed within the housing is provided. The unitary optical ferruleincludes an optical waveguide alignment member for receiving, aligningand permanently attaching to a plurality of optical waveguides; a lightredirecting member for changing a direction of light propagating withinthe optical ferrule; and first and second flexible alignment features onopposite sides of the optical ferrule, such that when the connectormates with a mating connector including a mating optical ferrule, thefirst and second flexible alignment features flex away from one anotherand engage the mating optical ferrule at respective first and secondcontact points.

In some aspects of the present description, an optical ferrule includinga body and opposing arms on opposite sides of, and spaced apart from,the body is provided. Each arm has a fixed end attached to the body andan opposite free end. When the optical ferrule is mated with a matingferrule, at least one of the arms is flexed away from the body, and bothfree ends contact the mating ferrule.

In some aspects of the present description, an optical ferrule includinga body and a first flexible arm is provided. The first flexible arm hasa first fixed end attached to the body and an opposite first free endadjacent to and spaced apart from the body. When the optical ferrule ismated with a mating ferrule, the first flexible arm is flexed away fromthe body, and the first free end contacts the mating ferrule. Theoptical ferrule is adapted to receive and transmit light.

In some aspects of the present description, an optical connector adaptedto mate with a mating connector along a mating direction in a matingplane is provided. The optical connector has at least one flexingelement such that when the optical connector is mated with the matingconnector, the at least one flexing element is flexed and makes contactwith the mating connector, and the optical connector and the matingconnector are adapted to slide relative to each other in the matingplane.

In some aspects of the present description, an alignment frame forfacilitating a mating of a first ferrule to a second ferrule along amating direction is provided. The alignment frame includes a base;opposing first and second arms extending forwardly from opposing ends ofthe base; spaced apart first and second flexible features disposed on aninner surface of the first arm and facing the second arm; and spacedapart third and fourth flexible features disposed on an inner surface ofthe second arm and facing the first arm. When the alignment framefacilitates a mating of a first ferrule to a second ferrule resulting inthe first ferrule being mated to the second ferrule, the opposing firstand third flexible features are flexed and in contact with the firstferrule, and the opposing second and fourth flexible features are flexedand in contact with the second ferrule.

In some aspects of the present description, an optical ferrule includingfirst and second alignment features for mating with correspondingalignment features of a mating optical ferrule is provided. One of thefirst and second alignment features is compressible or expandable andthe optical ferrule is adapted to receive and transmit light.

In some aspects of the present description, an optical ferrule includinga first feature having a size and a shape, and a second feature definingan expandable opening is provided. The expandable opening has anunexpanded state and an expanded state, such that inserting an objecthaving the size and the shape of the first feature into the expandableopening expands the opening from the unexpanded state to the expandedstate. The optical ferrule is adapted to receive and transmit light.

In some aspects of the present description, an optical ferrule includinga first feature defining an opening, and a compressible second featureis provided. The opening has a size and a shape and the compressiblesecond feature has an uncompressed state and a compressed state.Inserting the compressible second feature into an opening of an object,the opening of the object having the size and shape of the opening ofthe first feature, compresses the second feature from the uncompressedstate to the compressed state. The optical ferrule is adapted to receiveand transmit light.

In some aspects of the present description, an optical ferrule adaptedto receive and transmit light and adapted to mate with a mating opticalferrule along a ferrule mating direction is provided. The opticalferrule includes a first alignment feature for engaging a correspondingfirst alignment feature of a mating optical ferrule, and a secondalignment feature for engaging a corresponding second alignment featureof the mating optical ferrule. The first alignment feature is located ata first location along the ferrule mating direction, and the secondalignment feature is located at a substantially different secondlocation along the ferrule mating direction. When the optical ferrule ismated with the mating optical ferrule along the ferrule matingdirection, the first and second alignment features substantiallysimultaneously engage the corresponding first and second alignmentfeatures of the mating optical ferrule.

In some aspects of the present description, an optical ferrule adaptedto mate with a mating optical ferrule along a length direction of theoptical ferrule is provided. The optical ferrule has a thickness along athickness direction of the optical ferrule; a first alignment featurefor contacting a corresponding first alignment feature of a matingoptical ferrule at a first contact region of the first alignmentfeature; and a second alignment feature for contacting a correspondingsecond alignment feature of the mating optical ferrule at a secondcontact region of the second alignment feature. The first and secondcontact regions are offset relative to one another along at least thelength and thickness directions of the optical ferrule.

In some aspects of the present description, an optical ferrule includingfirst and second alignment features for engaging corresponding alignmentfeatures of a mating optical ferrule is provided. The optical ferrule isadapted to mate with the mating optical ferrule along each of twoorthogonal dimensions of the optical ferrule.

In some aspects of the present description, an optical ferrule includingfirst and second alignment features for engaging corresponding alignmentfeatures of a mating optical ferrule is provided. When the opticalferrule is mated with the mating optical ferrule, the optical ferrule isadapted to unmate from the mating optical ferrule via movement of theoptical ferrule relative to the mating optical ferrule along a firstdimension of the optical ferrule; and when the optical ferrule is matedwith the mating ferrule, the optical ferrule is adapted to unmate fromthe mating ferrule via movement of the optical ferrule relative to themating ferrule along a second dimension of the optical ferruleorthogonal to the first dimension.

In some aspects of the present description, an optical ferrule includinga first alignment feature having a size and a shape; and a secondalignment feature defining an opening is provided. The second alignmentfeature includes a first compliant feature having a first state and asecond state different from the first state. Inserting an object havingthe size and the shape of the first alignment feature into the openingchanges the first compliant feature from the first state to the secondstate. The optical ferrule is adapted to receive and transmit light.

In some aspects of the present description, an optical ferrule includinga first alignment feature defining an opening, and a second alignmentfeature is provided. The opening has a size and a shape, and the firstcompliant feature has a first state and a second state different fromthe first state. Inserting the second alignment feature into an openingof an object, the opening of the object having the size and shape of theopening of the first alignment feature, changes the first compliantfeature from the first state to the second state. The optical ferrule isadapted to receive and transmit light.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic plan view of a ferrule;

FIG. 1B is a schematic plan view of a ferrule assembly including twomated ferrules;

FIG. 1C is a schematic side view of the ferrule assembly of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 1D is a schematic plan view of a ferrule;

FIG. 2A is a schematic plan view of a connector;

FIG. 2B is a schematic side view of the connector of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C is a schematic plan view of a connector;

FIG. 3A is a schematic plan view of two mated connectors;

FIG. 3B is a schematic side view of the mated connectors of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3C is a schematic plan view of two mated connectors;

FIG. 4A is a top view of a ferrule;

FIG. 4B is a front perspective view of the ferrule of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a ferrule assembly including two matedferrules;

FIG. 5B is a top view of the ferrule assembly of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5C is a bottom view of the ferrule assembly of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5D is a back view of the ferrule assembly of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5E is a front view of the ferrule assembly of FIG. 5A;

FIGS. 6A-6C are schematic top views of an alignment frame;

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of an alignment frame configured tofacilitate the mating of first and second ferrules;

FIG. 7B is a top view of an alignment frame configured to facilitate themating of first and second ferrules;

FIG. 7C is a top view of an alignment frame and mated first and secondferrules;

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of an alignment frame;

FIG. 8B is a perspective view of a portion of the alignment frame ofFIG. 8A engaged with a first ferrule;

FIG. 8C is a perspective view of the alignment frame of FIG. 8A engagedwith a first ferrule and disposed to facilitate a mating of the firstferrule to a second ferrule;

FIGS. 9A-9B are schematic plan views of a ferrule;

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of a ferrule assembly including twomated ferrules;

FIG. 11A is a top perspective view of a ferrule assembly including twomated ferrules;

FIG. 11B is a bottom perspective view of the ferrule assembly of FIG.11A;

FIG. 12A is a schematic plan view of a ferrule;

FIG. 12B is a schematic side view of the ferrule of FIG. 12A;

FIG. 13A is a schematic plan view of a ferrule;

FIG. 13B is a schematic side view of the ferrule of FIG. 13A;

FIG. 14 is a schematic top view of a ferrule assembly;

FIGS. 15A-15B are schematic plan views of a ferrule;

FIG. 15C is a schematic side view of the ferrule of FIGS. 15A-15B;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of first and second ferrules;

FIG. 17A is a perspective view of a ferrule assembly including two matedferrules;

FIGS. 17B-17C are perspective views of two unmated ferrules;

FIG. 18A is a top perspective view of a ferrule;

FIG. 18B is a bottom perspective view of the ferrule of FIG. 18A;

FIGS. 18C-18D are perspective views of two proximate ferrules;

FIGS. 19-22 are schematic top views of ferrules;

FIG. 23 is a schematic top view of a ferrule assembly including twomated ferrules;

FIG. 24A is a perspective view of an optical ferrule; and

FIG. 24B is a perspective view of two proximate optical ferrules.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings that forms a part hereof and in which are shown by way ofillustration. The drawings are not necessarily to scale. It is to beunderstood that other embodiments are contemplated and may be madewithout departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure.The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in alimiting sense.

Spatially related terms, including but not limited to, “lower,” “upper,”“beneath,” “below,” “above,” and “on top,” if used herein, are utilizedfor ease of description to describe spatial relationships of anelement(s) to another. Such spatially related terms encompass differentorientations of the device in use or operation in addition to theparticular orientations depicted in the figures and described herein.For example, if an object depicted in the figures is turned over orflipped over, portions previously described as below or beneath otherelements would then be above those other elements.

In some embodiments of the present description, connectors or connectorcomponents such as ferrules or alignment frames allow for accuratealignment by utilizing compliant features. In some embodiments, thesecompliant features allow greater tolerances for manufacturingvariations, such as shrinkage of an injection molded polymer ferrule.For example, a ferrule may include one or more flexible arms that guideor help guide the ferrule and a mating ferrule into alignment when thetwo ferrules are mated. In some embodiments, first and second arms mayhave the same flexing properties (e.g., the same modulus and the samegeometry). In some cases, symmetric flexing properties may be reliablyobtained by utilizing an injection molding process, for example, to forma unitary ferrule. A unitary ferrule is a single piece structure (asopposed to a ferrule that includes pieces formed separately and adheredor otherwise fastened together). The ferrule be made from any suitablematerials including polymers or ceramics.

In some embodiments, the ferrule may have a geometric design that allowsaccurate alignment even when the first and second flexible arms havedifferent flexing properties. Accurate alignment can be obtained if thefirst flexible arm is more flexible than the second flexible arm, forexample, because the ferrule and a mating ferrule may be mated to form aferrule assembly with the first flexible arms of each ferrule on a samefirst side of the ferrule assembly and the second flexible arms of eachferrule on an opposite second side of the ferrule assembly. As describedfurther elsewhere herein, such arrangements allow for balanced forces onthe ferrules when correctly aligned even if the first and secondflexible arms have differing flexing properties. The ferrules, alignmentframes and connectors described herein may allow for improved alignmentaccuracy and/or may allow accurate alignment without the tightmechanical tolerance requirements of conventional connectors.

The ferrules described herein may be hermaphroditic ferrules and may beunitary ferrules. The ferrules described herein may be optical,electrical, or hybrid ferrules having features for both optical andelectrical connections. An optical ferrule may be described as a hybridferrule if the optical ferrule is adapted to transmit and/or receivelight and is further adapted to receive and/or transmit an electricalsignal. A hybrid ferrule may be both an electrical ferrule and anoptical ferrule and may be adapted to provide both electrical andoptical signals to a mating ferrule. In some cases, a hybrid ferrule mayinclude an optoelectronic transducer and may be adapted to receive anoptical signal and transmit an electrical signal or receive anelectrical signal and transmit an optical signal. The connectorsdescribed herein may be optical, electrical, or hybrid connectors andmay include one or more ferrules and may include one or more alignmentframes.

FIG. 1A is a schematic plan view of first ferrule 100 a including a body110 a having a width W, a first flexible arm 120 a and a second flexiblearm 130 a opposite the first flexible arm 120 a. Body 110 a includes afirst side 117 a and a second side 119 a opposite the first side 117 a.First flexible arm 120 a has a first fixed end 122 a attached to thefirst side 117 a and an opposite first free end 124 a. Second flexiblearm 130 a has a second fixed end 132 a attached to the second side 119 aand an opposite second free end 134 a.

In some embodiments, the first and second flexible arms 120 a and 130 aare symmetrically disposed on the first and second sides 117 a and 119 aof the body 110 a. In some embodiments, the first and second flexiblearms 120 a and 130 a have the same flexing properties. In otherembodiments, the first and second flexible arms 120 a and 130 a may havedifferent flexing properties. For example, one or the other of the firstand second flexible arms may be more rigid by being formed of a highermodulus material or by being thicker, for example. This can be eitherintentional or accidental, e.g. via a molding process or materialnon-uniformity. In some embodiments, one of the first and secondflexible arms is more flexible than the other one of the first andsecond flexible arms. In some embodiments, one, but not the other one,of the first and second flexible arms is substantially rigid.

An x-y-z-coordinate system is illustrated in FIG. 1A. The first andsecond flexible arms 120 a and 130 a extend in the z-direction, which isa mating direction of the ferrule 100 a, and the first and secondflexible arms 120 a and 130 a are separated from each other in thex-direction. The first and second arms 120 a and 130 a may be said togenerally define a plane (the x-z plane or a plane parallel to the x-zplane). In some embodiments, the plane may contain or substantiallycontain the first and second arms 120 a and 130 a. In some embodiments,the first and second free ends 124 a and 134 a are separated by adistance d when the ferrule is unmated from a mating ferrule, and areseparated by a distance W, which may be greater than d and may be awidth of a body of the mating ferrule, when the ferrule is mated to themating ferrule.

A mating direction of a ferrule refers to a direction along which aferrule is adapted to be moved in order to mate with a mating ferrule.If a ferrule and a mating ferrule are misaligned so that fine tuning ofthe relative positions are needed before the ferrules mate, then theorientations of the ferrule and the mating ferrule may be described asnot initially aligned along a mating direction. In some embodiments, theferrule may have a single mating direction; i.e., there may be a singledirection along which the ferrule is adapted to be moved relative to amating ferrule in order to mate with the mating ferrule. As describedfurther elsewhere herein, in some embodiments, a ferrule may have morethan one mating direction. For example, in some embodiments the ferrulemay be adapted to be moved along a first mating direction, or along asecond orthogonal mating direction, or along a vector sum of the firstand second mating directions relative to a mating ferrule in order tomate with the mating ferrule.

FIGS. 1B and 1C are a schematic plan view and a schematic side view,respectively, of ferrule assembly 105 including first ferrule 100 a ofFIG. 1A and a second ferrule 100 b mated with first ferrule 100 a.Second ferrule 100 b includes a body 110 b, a first flexible arm 120 band a second flexible arm 130 b opposite the first flexible arm 120 b.Body 110 b includes a first side 117 b and a second side 119 b oppositethe first side 117 b. First flexible arm 120 b has a first fixed end 122b attached to the first side 117 b and an opposite first free end 124 b.Second flexible arm 130 b has a second fixed end 132 b attached to thesecond side 119 b and an opposite second free end 134 b. The first andsecond free ends 124 a and 134 a of the first ferrule contact thecorresponding opposing first and second sides 117 b and 119 b of thesecond ferrule 100 b. First free end 124 a contacts body 110 b atcontact point 197 b, first free end 124 b contacts body 110 a at contactpoint 197 a, second free end 134 a contacts body 110 b at contact point199 b, and second free end 134 b contacts body 110 a at contact point199 a. First and second ferrules 100 a and 100 b may be electrical,optical or hybrid ferrules and ferrule assembly 105 may be anelectrical, an optical, or a hybrid ferrule assembly. First and secondsides 117 a and 119 a, and/or first and second sides 117 b and 119 b,may be substantially inflexible or may include substantially inflexiblefeatures at the contact points 197 a and 199 a, and/or at the contactpoints 197 b and 199 b, respectively. In other embodiments, a ferruleassembly may include a first ferrule of the present description matedwith a second ferrule which does not include a compliant feature such asa flexible arm.

In FIG. 1B, the first and second free ends 124 a and 134 a of the firstand second arms 120 a and 130 a are separated by the width of body 110b, which may be substantially equal to the width W of body 110 a, andmay be greater that the distance d when the ferrules 100 a and 100 b areunmated (see FIG. 1A). Similarly, the first and second ends 124 b and134 b of the first and second arms 120 b and 130 b are separated by thewidth W of body 110 a and may be greater that a distance between thefirst and second ends 124 b and 134 b when the ferrules 100 a and 100 bare unmated.

At least one of the first and second ferrules 100 a and 100 b may havefirst and second arms (120 a and 130 a or 120 b and 130 b) that have thesame or different flexing properties. Such flexing properties mayinclude the Young's modulus of the arms or the force required to deflectthe arms by a given amount (which may depend on the Young's modulus andgeometric factors such as a diameter or a lateral dimension of thearms). In some embodiments, the first flexing arms (first arms 120 a and120 b) of the first and second ferrules 100 a and 100 b have same firstflexing properties, and the second flexing arms (second arms 130 a and130 b) of the first and second ferrules have same second flexingproperties different than the first flexing properties. In someembodiments, for at least one of the first and second ferrules 100 a or100 b, one of the first and second flexible arms is more flexible thanthe other one of the first and second flexible arms.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1A, the first and second arms 120a and 130 a of first ferrule 100 a are symmetrically disposed about body110 a and when first ferrule 100 a is mated with second ferrule 100 b,the first and second arms 120 a and 130 a are flexed away from theircorresponding side (first side 117 a and second side 119 a,respectively) of the body 110 a by substantially equal amounts. In otherembodiments, the first and second arms may not be disposed symmetricallyabout the body of the ferrule. In some embodiments, for at least one ofthe first and second ferrules, one of the first and second flexible armsis flexed away more from its corresponding side of the body and theother one of the first and second flexible arms is flexed away less fromits corresponding side of the body.

The bodies 110 a and 110 b can be properly aligned even if the firstflexible arms 120 a and 120 b and the second flexible arms 130 a and 130b have different flexing properties. For example, in some embodiments,first flexible arms 120 a and 120 b have same first flexing propertiesand second flexible arms 130 a and 130 b have same second flexingproperties, with the first flexible arms 120 a and 120 b more flexiblethan the second flexible arms 130 a and 130 b. The forces on bodies 110a and 110 b may balance in this case with the bodies aligned as in FIG.1B.

The second ferrule 100 b may be described as a mating ferrule for thefirst ferrule 100 a (or vice versa). The z-direction may be described asa mating direction for the ferrules. In some embodiments, when a ferrule(e.g., first ferrule 100 a) is mated with a mating ferrule (e.g., secondferrule 100 b) along a mating direction (e.g., the z-direction), theferrule and the mating ferrule are adapted to slide relative to oneanother along a first direction different from the mating direction. Thefirst direction may be a lateral direction, such as the x-direction. Insome embodiments, when a ferrule (e.g., first ferrule 100 a) is matedwith a mating ferrule (e.g., second ferrule 100 b), the ferrule and themating ferrule are adapted to slide relative to one another in a planesubstantially parallel to a plane generally defined by the first andsecond flexible arms (e.g., first and second flexible arms 120 a and 130a). As described elsewhere herein, the first and second arms 120 a and130 a generally define a plane parallel to the x-z plane. In someembodiments, the first and second ferrules 100 a and 100 b may beadapted to slide relative to one another in a plane substantiallyparallel to the x-z plane. For example, the first and second ferrules100 a and 100 b may be adapted to slide relative to each other in thelateral x-direction and/or the z-direction (mating direction).

The first and second flexible arms 120 a and 130 a of the first ferrule100 a and the first and second flexible arms 120 b and 130 b of thesecond ferrule 100 b may guide the first and second ferrules 100 a and100 b into alignment with one another when the first and second ferrules100 a and 100 b are misaligned. In some embodiments, when the firstferrule 100 a is mated with a second ferrule 100 b along the matingdirection (z-direction) and the second ferrule 100 b is misalignedrelative to the first ferrule 100 a along a direction different from themating direction (e.g., misaligned along the x-direction), the flexedfirst and second flexible arms 120 a and 130 a of the first ferrule 100a guide the second ferrule 100 b into alignment with the first ferrule100 a. Similarly, when the first and second ferrules 100 a and 100 b aremisaligned, the flexed first and second flexible arms 120 b and 130 b ofthe second ferrule 100 b may guide the first ferrule 100 a intoalignment with the second ferrule 100 b. In some embodiments, when thefirst and second ferrules 100 a and 100 b are misaligned relative toeach other, the flexible arms of the ferrules (120 a, 130 a, 120 b, and130 b) cooperatively guide the ferrules into alignment with each other.The first and second flexible arms 120 a and 130 a may be described asfirst and second compliant alignment features of first ferrule 100 a.Similarly, the first and second flexible arms 120 b and 130 b may bedescribed as first and second compliant alignment features of secondferrule 100 b.

In some embodiments, in plan view, the first flexible arm of the firstferrule at least partially overlaps the first flexible arm of the secondferrule, and the second flexible arm of the first ferrule at leastpartially overlaps the second flexible arm of the second ferrule. Insome embodiments, in plan view, the flexible arms of the first andsecond ferrules on a same side of the ferrule assembly at leastpartially overlap each other. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, inplan view, the first flexible arm 120 a of the first ferrule 100 a andthe first flexible arm 120 b of the second ferrule 100 b partiallyoverlap each other, and the second flexible arm 130 a of the firstferrule 100 a and the second flexible arm 130 b of the second ferrule100 b partially overlap each other.

In some embodiments, in side view, when the ferrules are fully mated thefirst flexible arms of the first and second ferrules extend beyond eachother, and the second flexible arms of the first and second ferrulesextend beyond each other. In some embodiments, in side view, theflexible arms of the first and second ferrules on a same side of theferrule assembly extend beyond each other. In some embodiments, in sideview, the first flexible arms of the first and second ferrules arevertically offset relative to each other, and the second flexible armsof the first and second ferrules are vertically offset relative to eachother. In some embodiments, in side view, the flexible arms of the firstand second ferrules on a same side of the ferrule assembly arevertically offset relative to each other. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 1C, in side view, first flexible arm 130 a of first ferrule 100 aextends beyond first flexible arm 130 b of second ferrule 100 b sincethe free end 134 a extends further in the z-direction (mating direction)than the free end 134 b. Also, as illustrated in FIG. 1C, the firstflexible arm 130 a of the first ferrule 100 a and the first flexible arm130 b of the second ferrule 100 b are vertically (y-direction) offsetfrom each other.

In some embodiments, the separation distance between the free ends 124 aand 134 a of the first ferrule 100 a may increase as the first ferrule100 a moves in the mating direction toward the second ferrule 100 b andmay reach a maximum distance when the first and second ferrules 100 aand 100 b are fully mated. In other embodiments, the body of theferrules may include one or more indented features, latching features,divots or other structures which allow the separation between the armsto decrease when the first and second ferrules 100 a and 100 b are matedrelative to a maximum separation that is obtained after the flexiblearms of the first ferrule 100 a contact the second ferrule 100 b butbefore the first and second ferrules 100 a and 100 b are fully mated.This is illustrated FIG. 1D which is a schematic plan view of ferrule100 d including a body 110 d having a first flexible arm 120 d and asecond flexible arm 130 b opposite the first flexible arm 120 d. Body110 d includes a first side 117 d and a second side 119 d opposite thefirst side 117 d. First side 117 d includes a first indented or latchingfeature 114 and second side 119 d includes a second indented or latchingfeature 115. When ferrule 100 d is fully mated with a mating ferrulehaving first and second flexible arms (e.g., another ferrule 100 d), thefirst and second flexible arms of the mating ferrule contact ferrule 100d at the first and second indented or latching features 114 and 115,respectively. Prior to being fully mated with the mating ferrule, as theferrule 100 d approaches the mating ferrule along the mating direction(z-direction) a separation between the free ends of the arms of themating ferrule increases as the free ends contact the body 110 d,reaches a maximum distance and then decreases when the free ends contactthe first and second indented or latching features 114 and 115.

In some embodiments, a connector includes a housing and a ferrule of thepresent description disposed at least partially inside the housing. Thehousing can function to prevent dirt from interfering with opticalconnections, for example. The housing can provide the retention force,e.g., via a spring mechanism, to maintain the ferrules in positivecontact, as well as a latching and release mechanism for mating andde-mating the connector. In addition, the housing can protect an opticalferrule from outputting stray light that can be a safety hazard to thosenearby. In some embodiments, the housing can have a latching mechanismto prevent its accidental opening. In some embodiments, the housing canhave a door mechanism that may be opened by the action of mating twoconnectors.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are a schematic plan view and a side cross-sectionalview, respectively, of connector 240 including ferrules 200-1 and 200-2disposed partially within housing 242 (which is shown as transparent inthe figures so that the ferrules are visible). In the illustratedembodiment, ferrule 200-1 includes first and second arms 220-1 and 230-1and ferrule 200-2 includes a first arm (not illustrated) and a secondarm 230-2. In other embodiments, ferrules 200-1 and 200-2 may correspondto ferrule 900 (see FIGS. 9A-9B) or ferrule 1500 (see FIGS. 15A-15C),for example, and may each include first and second alignment featureswith one of the alignment features expandable or compressible asdescribed elsewhere herein. The z-direction is a mating direction forconnector 240. In some embodiments, the housing includes a featuredefining a mating direction of the connector. This is illustrated inFIG. 2C which is a schematic plan view of connector 240 c includingferrule 200 c having first and second arms 220 c and 230 c disposedpartially in housing 242 c. Housing 242 c includes alignment features244 that are configured to align connector 240 c with a matingconnector. The alignment features 244 define a mating direction for theconnector 240 c, which, in the illustrated embodiment, is thez-direction. In some embodiments, the alignment features 244 may matewith corresponding alignment features in a mating connector.

In some embodiments, the ferrules of the present description may beoptical ferrules, may be electrical ferrules, or may be hybrid ferrules.In some embodiments, a ferrule of the present description may be anoptical ferrule and may include an optically transparent portion forpropagating an optical signal therein. In some embodiments, a ferrule ofthe present description may be an electrical ferrule and may include anelectrically conductive portion for propagating an electrical signaltherein. For example, ferrule 200 c also includes portion 248, which maybe an electrically conductive portion (e.g., portion 248 may includeelectrically conductive elements that may be used to attach wires to theferrule 200 c and/or may include electrically conductive elementsconfigured to electrically connect to corresponding electricallyconductive elements of a mating ferrule) or may be an opticallytransparent portion (e.g., portion 248 may include a light redirectingmember for changing a direction of light propagating within the ferrule,as described further elsewhere herein).

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2B, two ferrules are disposedin housing 242. In other embodiments, fewer or more ferrules may beincluded in housing 242. For example, a connector may include 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6 or more ferrules. In some embodiments, a connector may include1-20 ferrules, or 1-100 ferrules, or 1-250 ferrules, for example, atleast partially disposed within a housing of the connector. In someembodiments, the ferrules may be arranged in the connector in atwo-dimensional array which may include two or more rows with each rowincluding two or more stacks of ferrules.

The ferrules may be disposed in a connector housing with a major axis ofthe ferrule aligned with a major axis of the connector housing.Alternatively, the ferrules may be disposed in a connector housing witha major axis of the ferrule at a skew angle relative to a major axis ofthe connector housing. In this case, the ferrules may be adapted torotate relative to the connector housing as the connector approaches andengages with a mating connector.

FIGS. 3A-3B show a schematic plan view and a schematic sidecross-sectional view, respectively, of connector assembly 345 includingmated first and second connectors 340 a and 340 b. First connector 340 aincludes a first housing 342 a and a first ferrule 300 a disposed atleast partially inside the first housing 342 a (which is shown astransparent in the figures so that the ferrules are visible). Secondconnector 340 b includes a second housing 342 b and a second ferrule 300b disposed at least partially inside the second housing 342 b (which isshown as transparent in the figures so that the ferrules are visible).First and second ferrules 300 a and 300 b may correspond to any of theferrules of the present description, such as, for example, first andsecond ferrules 100 a and 100 b. In the illustrated embodiment, firstferrule 300 a includes first and second flexible arms 320 a and 330 a,and second ferrule 300 b includes first and second flexible arms 320 band 330 b. In other embodiments, first and second ferrules 300 a and 300b may correspond to the ferrules 1000 a and 1000 b (see FIG. 10) or theferrules 1600 a and 1600 b (see FIG. 16), for example, and may eachinclude first and second alignment features with one of the featuresexpandable or compressible as described elsewhere herein. First andsecond ferrules 300 a and 300 b are mated together to form ferruleassembly 305. The first and second flexible arms 320 a and 330 a of thefirst ferrule 300 a are flexed away from the respective first and secondsides of the body of the first ferrule 300 a, and the first and secondfree ends of the flexible arms of the first ferrule 300 a contact thesecond ferrule 300 b. The first and second flexible arms 320 b and 330 bof the second ferrule 300 b are flexed away from the respective firstand second sides of the body of the second ferrule 300 b, and the firstand second free ends of the flexible arms of the second ferrule 300 bcontact the first ferrule 300 a.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3B, a single ferrule ispartially disposed in each of the housings 342 a and 342 b when theconnectors are disconnected (when the connectors are connected a portion(the arms) of the ferrule of one connector may be partially disposed inthe housing of the other connector). In other embodiments, a pluralityof ferrules may be at least partially disposed in each of the housingswhen the connectors are disconnected.

In some embodiments, ferrule 300 a is an optical ferrule adapted to beoptically coupled to an optical signal carrier that may include at leastone of an optical waveguide, an optoelectronic device, and an opticalelement. Ferrule 300 a may be adapted to transfer an optical signalcarried by the optical signal carrier to ferrule 300 b, which may be amating optical ferrule. In some embodiments, ferrule assembly 305 mayinclude a first optical signal carrier including at least one of anoptical waveguide, an optoelectronic device, and an optical elementcoupled to ferrule 300 a, and may include a second optical signalcarrier including at least one of an optical waveguide, anoptoelectronic device, and an optical element coupled to ferrule 300 b.In some embodiments, each of the first and second optical signalcarriers includes one or more optical waveguides. In some embodiments,the first optical signal carrier is one or more optical waveguides andthe second optical signal carrier is an optical detector. In someembodiments, the optical waveguides include one or more optical fibers.Any of the optical fibers may be a single-mode optical fiber at awavelength in a range from about 1200 nm to about 1700 nm. Any of theoptical fibers may be a multi-mode optical fiber at a wavelength in arange from about 600 nm to about 1700 nm. First ferrule 300 a may beadapted to be optically coupled to an optical signal carrier andtransfer an optical signal carried by the optical signal carrier tosecond ferrule 300 b. First ferrule 300 a may also be adapted to beelectrically coupled to an electrically conductive element and transferan electrical signal carried by the electrically conductive element tothe second ferrule 300 b. In some embodiments, each of first and secondferrules 300 a and 300 b is adapted to transfer both optical andelectrical signals.

FIG. 3C is a schematic top plan view of connector assembly 345 c whichincludes the connector assembly 345 of FIG. 3A and includes first andsecond signal carriers 347 a and 347 b coupled to first and secondferrules 300 a and 300 b, respectively. First signal carrier 347 aincludes portion 349 a, and second signal carrier 347 b includes portion349 b. Each of ferrule 300 a and 300 b may be an electrical ferrule, ormay be optical ferrule, or may be a hybrid ferrule. In some embodiments,one or both of first and second signal carriers 347 a and 347 b may beelectrical signal carriers such as a first and second wire,respectively, or such as a first and second plurality of wires,respectively. One or both of portions 349 a and 349 b may beelectrically conductive elements that may be used to attach the wires tothe ferrules. In some embodiments, one or both of first and secondsignal carriers 347 a and 347 b may be optical signal carriers such as afirst and second optical waveguide, respectively, or such as a first andsecond plurality of optical waveguides, respectively. Portions 349 a and349 b may include one or more lenses, mirrors, prisms or opticalfilters, for example. In some embodiments, one or both of first andsecond signal carriers 347 a and 347 b may be or may include at leastone of an optical waveguide, an optoelectronic device, an opticaldetector, an optical emitter.

In some embodiments, both first and second ferrules 300 a and 300 b areelectrical ferrules, both first and second signal carriers 347 a and 347b are electrical signal carriers, and the first and second ferrules 300a and 300 b electrically connect the first and second signal carriers347 a and 347 b. In some embodiments, both first and second ferrules 300a and 300 b are optical ferrules, both first and second signal carriers347 a and 347 b are optical signal carriers, and the first and secondferrules 300 a and 300 b optically connect the first and second signalcarriers 347 a and 347 b. In some embodiments, both first and secondferrules 300 a and 300 b are hybrid ferrules, both first and secondsignal carriers 347 a and 347 b carry optical and electrical signals,and the first and second ferrules 300 a and 300 b optically andelectrically connect the first and second signal carriers 347 a and 347b. In some embodiments, first ferrule 300 a is a hybrid ferrule, portion349 a includes an optoelectronic device (e.g., an optical detector) thatreceives an optical signal on the first signal carrier 347 a andproduces an electrical signal which is transferred to second ferrule 300b and from second ferrule 300 b to second signal carrier 347 b which maybe or may include a wire or a plurality of wires. In some embodiments,first ferrule 300 a is a hybrid ferrule, portion 349 a includes anoptoelectronic device (e.g., an optical emitter) that receives anelectrical signal on the first signal carrier 347 a and produces anoptical signal which is transferred to second ferrule 300 b and fromsecond ferrule 300 b to second signal carrier 347 b which may be or mayinclude an optical fiber or a plurality of optical fibers.

In some embodiments, one or both of first and second signal carriers 347a and 347 b include a cable that is attached to the respective housing342 a or 342 b. The cable(s) may be flexed within the housing when theconnectors 340 a and 340 b are mated, and compression in the cable(s)may provide a force in the mating direction (z-direction) on the firstand second ferrules 300 a and 300 b which help hold the ferrules inposition.

In some embodiments, a connector is adapted to mate with a matingconnector along a mating direction in a mating plane where the connectorhas at least one flexing element such that when the connector is matedwith the mating connector, the at least one flexing element makescontact with the mating connector and is flexed. The connector and themating connector may be adapted to slide relative to each other in themating plane. In some embodiments, when the connector is mated with themating connector, and the connector and the mating connector aremisaligned relative to each other in the mating plane, the flexedflexing element guides the two connectors into alignment with eachother. For example, connector 340 a is adapted to mate with connector340 b along a mating direction (the z-direction) in a mating plane (thex-z plane). Connector 340 a includes at least one flexing element (firstand second flexible arms 320 a and 330 a) which guides or helps guidethe connectors into alignment with each other. As another example, firstferrule 300 a may be considered to be a connector adapted to mate withsecond ferrule 300 b, which may be considered to be a mating connector.In some embodiments, the housing 342 a of the connector 340 a and/or thehousing 342 b of the connector 340 b may also include one or morealignment features, such as alignment features 244 (FIG. 2C), forexample.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a top plan view and a perspective front view,respectively, of ferrule 400 including body 410 and opposing first andsecond flexible arms 420 and 430 on opposite sides of body 410. Firstand second arms 420 and 430 are spaced apart from body 410. First arm420 has a first fixed end 422 attached to the body 410 and has anopposite first free end 424. Second arm 430 has a second fixed end 432attached to the body 410 and has an opposite second free end 434.Ferrule 400 includes a mating portion 413 disposed between the first andsecond free ends 424 and 434. Ferrule 400 may be a unitary opticalferrule and may be at least partially disposed in a housing of aconnector, such as, for example, connector 240 or 240 c of FIGS. 2A-2C.Ferrule 400 includes optical waveguide alignment member 452 which may beused for receiving, aligning and attaching a plurality of opticalwaveguides to the ferrule 400. In some embodiments, the plurality ofoptical waveguides may be permanently attached (e.g., with adhesive) toferrule 400 through optical waveguide alignment member 452. Opticalwaveguide alignment member 452 includes a plurality of groves 453, whichmay be v-grooves. One or more optical waveguides, such as opticalfibers, may be attached to one or more of the groves 453. Ferrule 400also includes light redirecting member 455 for changing a direction oflight propagating within the ferrule 400. In some embodiments, lightredirecting member 455 includes a plurality of surfaces 456 which canchange the direction of light propagating from an optical fiber disposedin a groove 453 in optical waveguide alignment member 452 via totalinternal reflection (TIR) from one of the plurality of surfaces 456. Theplurality of surfaces 456 may be plurality of curved surfaces designedto nominally collimate the light, for example. In some embodiments,surfaces 456 may include a reflective coating, for example, or otherwisebe made reflective. In some embodiments, ferrule 400 includes an opticalwindow, e.g., a recessed optical window, on a side of mating portion 413opposite the light redirecting member 455. The optical window may becoated with an antireflective coating.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4A, neither of the first andsecond flexible arms 420 and 430 extend beyond a front most edge 412 ofthe body 410. The first free end 424 is adjacent to and faces the firstside 417 of the body 410, and the second free end 434 is adjacent to andfaces the second side 419 of the body 410.

The first and second arms 420 and 430 are configured such that when theferrule 400 is mated with a mating ferrule, at least one of the arms isflexed away from the body 410, and both free ends 424 and 434 contactthe mating ferrule. In some embodiments, the first and second arms 420and 430 have the same or about the same flexibility. In someembodiments, one of the arms is substantially more flexible than theother. In some embodiments, one, but not both, of the arms issubstantially rigid. In some cases, ferrule 400 may be mated withanother ferrule that also includes a mating portion disposed betweenfree ends of two arms. In some embodiments, when the ferrule 400 ismated with another ferrule and the two ferrules are misaligned relativeto each other, the opposing arms of the two ferrules cooperativelydirect the two mating portions to slide over each other bringing the twoferrules into alignment with each other.

In some embodiments, as ferrule 400 moves along a mating directiontoward a mating ferrule, the free ends 424 and 434 of the first andsecond flexible arms 420 and 430 contact the mating ferrule, and as theferrule 400 continues to move along the mating direction (thez-direction) toward the mating ferrule, the flexible arms begin to flexaway from the body while remaining in contact with the mating ferrule,so that the flexible arms are maximally flexed away from the body whenthe ferrule is mated with the mating ferrule. The separation distancebetween the free ends 424 and 434 may increase as the ferrule 400 movesin the mating direction toward the mating ferrule and may reach amaximum distance when the ferrule 400 is mated with the mating ferrule.In other embodiments, the body of the mating ferrule may include divotsor other structures which allow the separation between the arms todecrease when the ferrule is mated with the mating ferrule relative to amaximum separation that is obtained after the flexible arms contact themating ferrule but before the ferrule is mated with the mating ferrule.

FIGS. 5A-5E are perspective, top plan, bottom plan, back view and frontview, respectively, of ferrule assembly 505 including mated first andsecond ferrules 500 a and 500 b. Each of the first and second ferrules500 a and 500 b may correspond to ferrule 400. First ferrule 500 aincludes body 510 a and opposing first and second arms 520 a and 530 aon opposite sides of body 510 a. First and second arms 520 a and 530 ainclude first and second free ends 524 a and 534 a, respectively, andinclude first and second fixed ends 522 a and 532 a, respectively. Firstferrule 500 a includes optical waveguide alignment member 552 a andlight redirecting member 555 a. Second ferrule 500 b includes body 510 band opposing first and second arms 520 b and 530 b on opposite sides ofbody 510 b. First and second arms 520 b and 530 b include first andsecond free ends 524 b and 534 b, respectively, and include first andsecond fixed ends 522 b and 532 b, respectively. Second ferrule 500 bincludes optical waveguide alignment member 552 b and light redirectingmember 555 b. First ferrule 500 a includes mating portion 513 a andsecond ferrule 500 b includes mating portion 513 b. The mating portions513 a and 513 b are stacked in a direction (y-direction) perpendicularto the mating direction (z-direction). In some embodiments, the matingportions 513 a and 513 b are adapted to slide relative to each other.

In some embodiments, an alignment frame for facilitating a mating of afirst ferrule to a second ferrule along a mating direction is provided.This is illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6C which are schematic top views ofalignment frame 660 including base 662 having opposing ends 664 and 666,and first and second arms 670 and 671 extending from opposing ends 664and 666. Alignment frame 660 can be used with any type of ferrule, forexample, electrical ferrules, optical ferrules, or hybrid ferrules.First arm 670 includes spaced apart first and second flexible features672 and 674 disposed on an inner surface 663 of first arm 670 facingsecond arm 671, and second arm 671 includes spaced apart third andfourth flexible features 676 and 678 disposed on inner surface 665 ofsecond arm 671 facing first arm 670. First arm 670 includes first andsecond portions 673 and 675 and second arm 671 includes first and secondportions 677 and 679. First portion 673 and first portion 677 arerelatively closer to the base 662 and second portion 675 and secondportion 679 are relatively farther from the base 662. First flexiblefeature 672 is disposed on first portion 673 of first arm 670, secondflexible feature 674 is disposed on second portion 675 of first arm 670,third flexible feature 676 is disposed on first portion 677 of secondarm 671, and fourth flexible feature 678 is disposed on second portion679 of second arm 671.

As illustrated in FIG. 6B, in some embodiments, the first and secondflexible features 672 and 674 lie on a first straight line 686substantially parallel to the mating direction (the z-direction), andthe third and fourth flexible features 676 and 678 lie on a secondstraight line 688 different than and substantially parallel to the firststraight line 686. In some embodiments, the first and third flexiblefeatures 672 and 676 lie on a third straight line 684 substantiallyperpendicular to the mating direction, and the second and fourthflexible features 674 and 678 lie on a fourth straight line 682different than and substantially parallel to the third straight line684. In some embodiments, the first, second, third and fourth flexiblefeatures 672, 674, 676 and 678 lie substantially in a same plane (e.g.,the x-z plane of FIGS. 6A-6C).

First and second flexible features 672 and 674 may be flexible by beingmade of a flexible (e.g., elastic) material and/or first and secondflexible features 672 and 674 may be flexible by virtue of beingdisposed on first arm 670 which may be flexible. Similarly, third andfourth flexible features 676 and 678 may be flexible by being made of aflexible (e.g., elastic) material and/or third and fourth flexiblefeatures 676 and 678 may be flexible by virtue of being disposed onsecond arm 671 which may be flexible. The first and second flexiblefeatures 672 and 674 may have substantially the same or differentflexing properties, and the third and fourth flexible features 676 and678 may have substantially the same or different flexing properties. Thefirst and second portions 673 and 675 of first arm 670 may havesubstantially the same or different flexing properties and the first andsecond portions 677 and 679 of second arm 671 may have substantially thesame or different flexing properties. The first and third flexiblefeatures 672 and 676 may have substantially the same first flexingproperties and the second and fourth flexible features 674 and 678 mayhave substantially the same second flexing properties. The first andsecond flexing properties may be the substantially the same or may bedifferent. The flexing properties may include an elastic modulus or mayinclude the force required to deflect a flexible feature by a givenamount or by a given percentage. Flexing properties can be adjusted byselecting materials to give a desired modulus (e.g., Young's modulus),for example, or by adjusting geometric parameters (e.g., diameters, orlateral dimensions, of the first and second arms or of the first and/orsecond portions) of the first and second arms 670 and 671 and/or of theflexible features 672, 674, 676 and 678.

When the alignment frame is not engaging a ferrule, the opposing firstand third flexible features are separated by a distance d⁰ ₁₃ and theopposing second and fourth flexible features 674 and 678 are separatedby a distance d⁰ ₂₄. In some embodiments, when the alignment frame 660facilitates a mating of a first ferrule to a second ferrule resulting inthe first ferrule being mated to the second ferrule, the first andsecond flexible features 672 and 674 are flexed in a same firstdirection (the positive x-direction), and the third and fourth flexiblefeatures 676 and 678 are flexed in a same second direction (the negativex-direction) opposite the first direction. In some embodiments, when thealignment frame 660 facilitates a mating of a first ferrule to a secondferrule resulting in the first ferrule being mated to the secondferrule, the opposing first and third flexible features 672 and 676 areeach flexed outwardly by the first ferrule a first distance and theopposing second and fourth flexible features 674 and 678 are each flexedoutwardly by the second ferrule a second distance greater than the firstdistance. This is schematically illustrated in FIGS. 6A-C.

FIG. 6A shows the positions of the flexible features and the arms whenthe alignment frame 600 is not engaging a ferrule. FIG. 6C shows thepositions of the flexible features and the arms that could be obtainedwhen the alignment frame 600 facilitates the mating of first and secondferrules (not shown). The first and third flexible features 672 and 676are separated by a distance d⁰ ₁₃ prior to engaging the first and secondferrules and are separated by a distance d₁₃ after engaging the firstand second ferrules. Similarly, the second and fourth flexible features674 and 678 are separated by a distance d⁰ ₂₄ prior to engaging thefirst and second ferrules and are separated by a distance d₂₄ afterengaging the first and second ferrules. The first and second arms 670and 671 may be curved outward from each other. The difference betweend₂₄ and d⁰ ₂₄ may be greater than the difference between d₁₃ and d⁰ ₁₃and may be greater than a distance that would have been obtained if thefirst and second arms 670 and 671 did not curve outward from oneanother.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of alignment frame 760 configured tofacilitate the mating of first and second ferrules 700 a and 700 b andthereby providing a connection between first and second signal carriers747 a and 747 b, which in the illustrated embodiment, are optical fibersin a fiber ribbon. In other embodiments, the first and/or the secondsignal carriers may be electrical or hybrid signal carriers (e.g., acable with both optical fibers and copper conductors). First ferrule 700a includes a mating portion 713 a and second ferrule 700 b includes acorresponding mating portion 713 b. Alignment frame 760 includes base762 having opposing first and second ends 764 and 766, and includesopposing first and second arms 770 and 771 which extend forwardly fromthe opposing ends 764 and 766 of the base 762. First arm 770 includesspaced apart first and second flexible features 772 and 774 disposed onan inner surface of the first arm 770 and facing the second arm 771, andsecond arm 771 includes spaced apart first and second features 776 and778 disposed on an inner surface of the second arm 771 and facing thefirst arm 770. When the alignment frame 760 facilitates the mating ofthe first ferrule 700 a to the second ferrule 700 b resulting in thefirst ferrule 700 a being mated to the second ferrule 700 b, theopposing first and third flexible features 772 and 776 are flexed and incontact with the first ferrule 700 a, and the opposing second and fourthflexible features 774 and 778 are flexed and in contact with the secondferrule 700 b. In some embodiments, when the alignment frame 760facilitates the mating of the first ferrule 770 a to the second ferrule700 b resulting in the first ferrule 700 a being mated to the secondferrule 700 b, the first and second ferrules 700 a and 700 b aredisposed, at least partially, between the first and second arms 770 and771.

FIG. 7B is a top view of first and second ferrules 700 a and 700 b withalignment frame 760 configured to facilitate the mating of first andsecond ferrules 700 a and 700 b. First ferrule 700 a include inflexiblefeatures 716 a and 718 a and second ferrule 700 b includes inflexiblefeatures 716 b and 718 b. Inflexible features 716 a, 718 a, 716 b, and718 b may provide insertion stops 721 a, 723 a, 721 b, and 723 b,respectively, which limit the extent of relative movement of the firstand second ferrules 700 a and 700 b in the mating direction (thez-direction). Alignment frame 760 also includes stop portions 761 whichare configured to abut a side of the first ferrule 700 a opposite themating portion 713 a.

FIG. 7C shows first and second ferrules 700 a and 700 b mated withalignment frame 760 facilitating the mating. Plane 782 is perpendicularto the mating direction (the z-direction) and parallel to the x-y plane,and connects the second and fourth flexible features 774 and 778. Plane784 is perpendicular to the mating direction and parallel to the x-yplane, and connects the first and third flexible features 772 and 776.In some embodiments, when the alignment frame 760 facilitates a matingof a first ferrule 700 a to a second ferrule 700 b along a matingdirection (the z-direction) resulting in the first ferrule 700 a beingmated to the second ferrule 700 b, the plane 782, which is perpendicularto the mating direction and connects the second and fourth flexiblefeatures 774 and 778, intersects both the first and second ferrules 700a and 700 b, and the plane 784, which is perpendicular to the matingdirection and connects the first and third flexible features 772 and776, intersects both the first and second ferrules 700 a and 700 b. Inother embodiments, the first and third flexible features 772 and 776 aredisposed closer to the first and second ends 764 and 766 so that theplane 784 connecting the first and third flexible features 772 and 776intersects only the first ferrule 700 a. In some embodiments, alignmentframe 760 and first ferrule 700 a may be disposed at least partially ina first connector housing and second ferrule 700 b may be disposed atleast partially in a second connector housing.

The first and second flexible features 772 and 774 may havesubstantially the same or different flexing properties. The third andfourth flexible features 776 and 778 may have substantially the same ordifferent flexing properties. In some embodiments, the first and thirdflexible features 772 and 776 have substantially the same first flexingproperties, and the second and fourth flexible features 774 and 778 havesubstantially the same second flexing properties. The second flexingproperties may be substantially the same or different from the firstflexing properties. In some embodiments, each of the first and secondflexible features 772 and 774 is flexible, at least in part, by virtueof the first arm 770 being flexible, and each of the third and fourthflexible features 776 and 778 is flexible, at least in part, by virtueof the second arm 771 being flexible.

In some embodiments, when the alignment frame 760 facilitates a matingof a first ferrule 700 a to a second ferrule 700 b resulting in thefirst ferrule 700 a being mated to the second ferrule 700 b, theopposing first and third flexible features 772 and 776 are flexed and incontact with corresponding inflexible features 716 a and 718 a,respectively, on the first ferrule 700 a, and the opposing second andfourth flexible features 774 and 778 are flexed and in contact withcorresponding inflexible features 716 b and 718 b, respectively, on thesecond ferrule 700 b. In some embodiments, when the alignment frame 760facilitates a mating of a first ferrule 700 a to a second ferrule 700 balong a mating direction (the z-direction) in a mating plane (the x-zplane) resulting in the first ferrule 700 a being mated to the secondferrule 700 b, and the first and second ferrules 700 a and 700 b aremisaligned relative to each other in the mating plane, the first,second, third and fourth flexible features 772, 774, 776 and 778cooperatively guide the first and second ferrules 700 a and 700 b intoalignment with each other.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of alignment frame 860 including base 862having opposing ends 864 and 866, and first and second arms 870 and 871extending from the opposing ends 864 and 866. Alignment frame 860 alsoincludes stop portions 861 which are configured to abut a side of aferrule opposite a mating portion of the ferrule. A front portion 875 offirst arm 870 splits into lower and upper beams 867 a and 867 b,respectively. First flexible feature 872 is disposed on an inner surface863 a of lower beam 867 a and second flexible feature 874 is disposed onan inner surface 863 b of upper beam 867 b. A front portion 879 ofsecond arm 871 splits into lower and upper beams 868 a and 868 b. Thirdflexible feature 876 is disposed on an inner surface (corresponding toinner surface 863 a) of lower beam 868 a and fourth flexible feature 878is disposed on an inner surface (corresponding to inner surface 863 b)of upper beam 868 b.

In some embodiments, each of the first and second flexible features 872and 874 is flexible, at least in part, by virtue of the upper and lowerbeams 867 b and 867 a of the first arm 870 being flexible, and each ofthe third and fourth flexible features 876 and 878 is flexible, at leastin part, by virtue of the upper and lower beams 868 b and 868 a of thesecond arm 871 being flexible.

FIG. 8B is a perspective view of a portion of the alignment frame 800engaged with first ferrule 800 a. First ferrule 800 a includesinflexible features 818 a which are in contact with first and thirdflexible features 872 and 876 on the respective lower beams 867 a and868 a. First ferrule 800 a includes light redirecting member 855 whichincludes a plurality of surfaces 856 of a plurality of curved mirrors857 and which is attached to signal carrier 847 a which includes aplurality of optical waveguides 846 a. The plurality of opticalwaveguides 846 a may be or may include a plurality of optical fibers. Insome embodiments, light redirecting member 855 includes a plurality ofsurfaces 856 which can change the direction of light propagating fromthe optical waveguides 846 a into light redirecting member 855 via totalinternal reflection (TIR) from the plurality of surfaces 856. In someembodiments, surfaces 856 may include a reflective coating, for example,or otherwise be made reflective. In some embodiments, first ferrule 800a may include a waveguide alignment member as described elsewhereherein. In some embodiments, first ferrule 800 a includes an opposingoptical window opposite the light redirecting member. Second ferrule 800b (see FIG. 8C) includes optical window 895 and may include an opposinglight redirecting member. The optical window 895 may be coated with anantireflective coating.

FIG. 8C is a perspective view of the alignment frame 860 engaged withthe first ferrule 800 a and disposed to facilitate a mating of the firstferrule 800 a to a second ferrule 800 b. Second ferrule 800 b includesinflexible features 816 b and 818 b. Second ferrule 800 b is connectedto signal carrier 847 b which may include a plurality of optical fibers.First and second ferrules 800 a and 800 b may be hermaphroditic ferrulesand may be unitary ferrules.

In some embodiments, when the alignment frame 860 facilitates a matingof a first ferrule 800 a to a second ferrule 800 b resulting in thefirst ferrule 860 a being mated to the second ferrule 800 b, the lowerbeams 867 a and 868 a of the first and second flexible arms 870 and 871are flexed and in contact with corresponding inflexible features 816 aand 818 a on the first ferrule 800 a, and the upper beams 867 b and 868b of the first and second flexible arms 870 and 871 are flexed and incontact with corresponding inflexible features 816 b and 818 b on thesecond ferrule 800 b. In other embodiments, the inflexible features 816a, 818 a, 816 b, and 818 b may be disposed such that the lower beams 867a and 868 a of the first and second flexible arms 870 and 871 are flexedand in contact with corresponding inflexible features 816 b and 818 b onthe second ferrule 800 b, and the upper beams 867 b and 868 b of thefirst and second flexible arms 870 and 871 are flexed and in contactwith corresponding inflexible features 816 a and 818 a on the firstferrule 800 a.

In some embodiments, a ferrule may have first and second alignmentfeatures where one of the features is expandable or where one of thefeatures is compressible. A feature may be said to be expandable orcompressible if it is substantially more expandable or compressible thana body of the ferrule. An expandable opening can be provided byincluding compliant features on opposing sides of the opening. Theopposing compliant features may be opposing flexible arms or may belayers of an elastomeric material more compliant that the body of theferrule disposed on opposite sides of the opening, for example. Acompressible feature can be provided by including compliant features onopposing sides of the feature. The opposing compliant features may beopposing flexible arms or may be layers of an elastomeric material morecompliant that the body of the ferrule disposed on opposite sides of thecompressible feature, for example.

FIGS. 9A-9B are schematic plan views of ferrule 900 having a firstfeature 901 and second feature 911. The first and second features 901and 911 are alignment features for mating with corresponding alignmentfeatures of a mating ferrule. The second feature 911 is expandable anddefines an expandable opening 913 which has an unexpanded stateillustrated in FIG. 9A and an expanded state illustrated in FIG. 9B.Inserting an object having the size and the shape of the first feature901 into the opening 913 expands the opening 913 from the unexpandedstate to the expanded state. The second feature 911 includes a firstflexible arm 920 having a first fixed end 922 attached to a to a firstside 917 of the opening 913 and an opposite first free end 924, andincludes a second flexible arm 930 having a second fixed end 932attached to a second side 919 of the opening 913, opposite the firstside 917, and an opposite second free end 934, such that when theopening 913 is in the unexpanded state, the first and second free ends924 and 934 are separated by a first distance d1 and when the expandableopening is in the expanded state, the first and second free ends 924 and934 are separated by a second distance d2 greater than the firstdistance d1. The first and second arms 920 and 930 are opposing firstand second compliant features, respectively. In the unexpanded state,the first and second arms 920 and 930 are in an unflexed state and inthe expanded state, the first and second arms 920 and 930 are in aflexed state.

The first feature 901 is located at a first location 927 along a ferrulemating direction (z-direction) of the ferrule 900, and the secondfeature 911 is located at a substantially different second location 929along the ferrule mating direction. When the ferrule 900 is mated with amating ferrule along the ferrule mating direction, the first and secondfeatures 901 and 911 substantially simultaneously engage correspondingalignment features of the mating optical ferrule. In the illustratedembodiment, the first location 927 is at a front 907 of the ferrule 900and the second location is at a rear 909 of the optical ferrule. Inother embodiments, the first and second locations may be at some skewangle relative to a major axis of the ferrule.

First and second locations 927 and 929 along the ferrule matingdirection may be said to be substantially different if there is somenon-zero spacing between the closest portions of the first and secondalignment features along the mating direction. Alignment featuresdisposed on a same side of a ferrule located in an x-y plane, forexample, would not be said to have substantially different locationsalong the z-axis, for example, since in this case there would be zerospacing between the closest portions of the alignment features along thez-axis.

The first feature 901 of the ferrule 900 may be adapted to contact acorresponding alignment feature (which may have the size and shape ofsecond feature 911) of a mating ferrule. Similarly, the second feature911 of the ferrule 900 may be adapted to contact a correspondingalignment feature (which may have the size and shape of first feature901) of a mating ferrule. In some embodiments, ferrule 900 has a lengthdirection (e.g., z-direction) and a thickness direction (e.g.,y-direction), and the ferrule 900 may be adapted to mate with a matingferrule along the length direction of the ferrule. The first feature 901may be adapted to contact a corresponding feature of the mating ferruleat a first contact region of the first feature 901 (e.g., at a side offirst feature 901), and the second feature 911 may be adapted to contacta corresponding alignment feature of the mating ferrule at a secondcontact region of the second feature 911 (e.g., at an inner side offirst and second arms 920 and 930). The first contact region of thefirst feature 901 may be displaced from the second contact region of thesecond feature 911 along the thickness direction as well as along thelength direction. In some embodiments, the first and second contactregions may also be displaced from each other along a transversedirection (e.g., x-direction).

As described further elsewhere herein, in some embodiments, the ferrule900 is adapted to mate with a mating ferrule along each of twoorthogonal dimensions of the ferrule. The two orthogonal dimensions maybe length (along z-direction) and thickness (along y-direction)dimensions of the ferrule 900.

Ferrule 900 may be any type of ferrule, for example, an electricalferrule, an optical ferrule, or a hybrid ferrule. In some embodiments,ferrule 900 is an optical ferrule adapted to receive and transmit light.In some embodiments, ferrule 900 is adapted to optically couple to anoptical signal carrier and transfer an optical signal carried by theoptical signal carrier to a mating ferrule. The optical signal carriermay include a portion (corresponding to portions 349 a and 349 b, forexample) that may be or may include at least one of an opticalwaveguide, an optoelectronic device, an optical detector, an opticalemitter, and/or an optical element which may be or may include one ormore prisms, or one or more optical filters, or one or more opticalwaveguides, for example. In some embodiments, ferrule 900 includes atleast one light redirecting element for receiving light along a lengthdirection (z-direction) of the ferrule and redirecting the receivedlight along a thickness direction (y-direction) of the ferrule 900. Thelight redirecting elements may correspond to any of the lightredirecting elements described elsewhere herein.

In some embodiments, ferrule 900 is hermaphroditic and in someembodiments, ferrule 900 is unitary. In some embodiments, when ferrule900 is mated with a mating ferrule, which may have the same size andshape as ferrule 900, the first and second features 901 and 911 of theferrule 900 and first and second alignment features of the matingferrule may guide the ferrule 900 and the mating ferrule into alignmentwith one another when the ferrule 900 and the mating ferrule aremisaligned.

In some embodiments, a connector is provided that includes a housing andat least one ferrule 900 disposed at least partially inside the housing.For example, any or all of ferrules 200-1, 200-2, 200-C, or 300 a and300 b in FIGS. 2A-3C can be replaced in their respective housings withferrule 900.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of ferrule assembly 1005 including opticalferrule 1000 a and mating optical ferrule 1000 b mated together. Opticalferrule 1000 a includes first alignment feature 1001 a, second alignmentfeature 1011 a, and opposing first and second compliant features 1020 aand 1030 a, which, in the illustrated embodiment, comprise first andsecond flexible arms. Mating optical ferrule 1000 b includes secondalignment feature 1001 b adapted to engage second alignment feature 1011a, and first alignment feature 1011 b adapted to engage first alignmentfeature 1001 a. First alignment feature 1011 b includes opposing firstand second compliant features 1020 b and 1030 b.

Second alignment feature 1011 a of optical ferrule 1000 a defines anexpandable opening 1013 a and first alignment feature 1011 b of matingoptical ferrule 1000 b defines an expandable opening 1013 b. Firstalignment feature 1001 a is inserted into expandable opening 1013 bwhich is in an expanded state. Similarly, second alignment feature 1001b is inserted into expandable opening 1013 a which is in an expandedstate. Optical ferrule 1000 a includes waveguide alignment member 1052 aand light redirecting member 1055 a which may correspond to anywaveguide alignment members and light redirecting members, respectively,described elsewhere herein. Light redirecting member 1055 a includes aplurality of light redirecting elements 1057 a for receiving light alonga length direction 1059 and redirecting the received light along athickness direction 1069 of the optical ferrule. Mating ferrule 1000 bmay also include a corresponding waveguide alignment member and acorresponding light redirecting member. Optical ferrule 1000 a andmating optical ferrule 1000 b may each be hermaphroditic and may each beunitary.

In some embodiments, the ferrules of the present description may beadapted to mate with a mating ferrule along each of two orthogonaldimensions of the ferrule, i.e., there may be two orthogonal directions(relative to major axes of the ferrule, for example) along which theferrule is adapted to be moved relative to a mating ferrule in order tomate with the mating ferrule. Optical ferrule 1000 a and mating opticalferrule 1000 b are adapted to mate along a length direction 1059(direction along the length dimension) which is a mating direction ofthe ferrules. Optical ferrule 1000 a and mating optical ferrule 1000 bmay also be adapted to mate along the orthogonal thickness direction1069 (direction along the thickness dimension). Optical ferrule 1000 aand mating optical ferrule 1000 b can approach the mated position shownin FIG. 10 by moving the ferrules together along the thickness direction1069, or by moving the ferrules together along the length direction1059, or by moving the ferrules together along a direction intermediatebetween the thickness direction 1069 and the length direction 1059.

FIGS. 11A-11B are top perspective and bottom perspective views,respectively, of ferrule assembly 1105 including optical ferrules 1100 aand mating optical ferrule 1100 b. Optical ferrule 1100 a includes firstalignment feature 1101 a and a second alignment feature 1111 a whichdefines an expandable opening. Mating optical ferrule 1100 b includessecond alignment feature 1101 b and first alignment feature 1111 b whichdefines an expandable opening. First alignment feature 1111 b may bedescribed as a corresponding alignment feature for first alignmentfeature 1101 a since first alignment feature 1111 b is adapted to engagefirst alignment feature 1101 a. Similarly, second alignment feature 1101b may be described as a corresponding alignment feature for secondalignment feature 1111 a since second alignment feature 1111 b isadapted to engage second alignment feature 1111 a. First alignmentfeature 1101 a is inserted into first alignment feature 1111 b which isin an expanded state. Similarly, second alignment feature 1101 b isinserted into second alignment feature 1111 a which is in an expandedstate. Optical ferrule 1100 a is attached to signal carrier 1147 a whichincludes a plurality of optical fibers 1146 a and mating optical ferrule1100 b is attached to signal carrier 1147 b which includes a pluralityof optical fibers 1146 b.

Any of the ferrules described herein, such as ferrules 1000 a, 1000 b,1100 a, or 1100 b, may be disposed in a connector housing such as any ofthose illustrated in FIGS. 2A-3C.

In some embodiments, a ferrule includes first and second alignmentfeatures having a size and shape such that when the optical ferrule ismated with a corresponding mating optical ferrule along a matingdirection, the first and second alignment features are adapted toprovide a force along the mating direction directed to hold the ferrulestogether. When the ferrule and the corresponding second ferrule aremoved apart along the mating direction, the first and second alignmentfeatures may be adapted to provide a restoring force along the matingdirection. Such features may keep the ferrule and the mating ferrulepositively registered and are illustrated in FIGS. 12A-14.

FIGS. 12A-12B are schematic top and side views, respectively of ferrule1200. Ferrule 1200 includes a lower portion 1251 that includes firstalignment feature 1201, and an upper portion 1254 that includes secondalignment feature 1211. Second alignment feature 1211 includes opposingfirst and second compliant features 1220 and 1230 and defines anexpandable opening 1213. First alignment feature 1201 and secondalignment feature 1211 are offset relative to one another along thelength direction (z-direction) and the thickness direction(y-direction).

FIGS. 13A-13B are schematic top and side views, respectively of ferrule1300 corresponding to ferrule 1200. Ferrule 1200 and ferrule 1300 may behermaphroditic and may have the same size and shapes. Ferrule 1300includes upper portion 1351, lower portion 1354 (see FIG. 13B) andalignment feature 1301 which has the same size and shape as firstalignment feature 1201 and which is adapted to engage second alignmentfeature 1211. Ferrule 1300 may also include an alignment feature adaptedto engage first alignment feature 1201.

FIG. 14 is a schematic top view of ferrule assembly 1405 includingferrule 1200 mated with ferrule 1300. Alignment feature 1301 of ferrule1300 is engaged with second alignment feature 1211 of ferrule 1200 andthe first alignment feature 1201 of ferrule 1200 may be engaged with acorresponding alignment feature (not illustrated) of ferrule 1300. Thealignment features 1301 and 1211 have a size and shape such that a forcemay be present along the z-direction directed to hold the ferrules 1200and 1300 together. When the ferrules 1200 and 1300 are moved apart alongthe z-direction, the alignment features 1301 and 1211 may be adapted toprovide a restoring force along the z-direction. The geometry of thealignment features may provide a latch and an extra force may berequired to mate and un-mate the ferrules compared to other embodiments.

In some embodiments, a ferrule may have first and second alignmentfeatures where one of the alignment features is compressible. FIGS. 15Aand 15B are schematic top views of ferrule 1500 including an upperportion 1554 which includes a first feature 1501 and a lower portion1551 which includes a second feature 1511. FIG. 15C is a schematic sideview of ferrule 1500. The first and second features 1501 and 1511 arealignment features for mating with corresponding alignment features of amating ferrule. In FIG. 15A, second feature 1511 is in an uncompressedstate and in FIG. 15B, second feature 1511 is in a compressed state.Inserting the compressible second feature 1511 into an opening of anobject where the opening has the size and shape of the first feature1501, compresses the second feature from the uncompressed state to thecompressed state. Second feature 1511 includes a body 1506 with opposingfirst and second sides 1517 and 1519 and includes first and secondcompliant features 1520 and 1530 on the opposite sides 1517 and 1519 ofthe body 1506. In the illustrated embodiment, the first compliantfeature 1520 is a first flexible arm having a first fixed end 1522attached to the first side 1517 of body 1506 and having an oppositefirst free end 1524. Similarly, in the illustrated embodiment, thesecond compliant feature 1530 is a second flexible arm having a secondfixed end 1532 attached to the second side 1519 of the body 1506 andhaving an opposite second free end 1534.

When the second feature 1511 is in the compressed state (FIG. 15B), thefirst and second free ends 1524 and 1534 are separated by a firstdistance d1 and when the second feature 1511 is in the uncompressedstate (FIG. 15A), the first and second free ends 1524 and 1534 areseparated by a second distance d2 greater than the first distance d1. Inthe uncompressed state, the first and second arms 1520 and 1530 are inan unflexed state and in the compressed state, the first and second arms1520 and 1530 are in a flexed state.

The first feature 1501 of the ferrule 1500 may be adapted to contact acorresponding alignment feature (which may have the size and shape ofsecond feature 1511) of a mating ferrule. Similarly, the second feature1511 of the ferrule 1500 may be adapted to contact a correspondingalignment feature (which may have the size and shape of first feature1501) of a mating ferrule. In some embodiments, ferrule 1500 has alength direction (e.g., z-direction) and a thickness direction (e.g.,y-direction), and the ferrule 1500 may be adapted to mate with a matingferrule along the length direction of the ferrule. The first feature1501 may be adapted to contact a corresponding feature of the matingferrule at a first contact region of the first feature 1501 (e.g., atopposing sides of first feature 1501), and the second alignment feature1511 may be adapted to contact a corresponding alignment feature of themating ferrule at a second contact region of the second alignmentfeature 1511 (e.g., at an outer side of first and second arms 1520 and1530). The first contact region of the first feature 1501 may bedisplaced from the second contact region of the second feature 1511along the thickness direction as well as along the length direction. Insome embodiments, the first and second contact regions may also bedisplaced from each other along a transverse direction (e.g.,x-direction).

As described further elsewhere herein, in some embodiments, the ferrule1500 is adapted to mate with a mating ferrule along each of twoorthogonal dimensions of the ferrule. The two orthogonal dimensions maybe length (along z-direction) and thickness (along y-direction)dimensions of the ferrule 1500.

Ferrule 1500 may be any type of ferrule, for example, an electricalferrule, an optical ferrule, or hybrid ferrule. In some embodiments,ferrule 1500 is an optical ferrule adapted to receive and transmitlight. In some embodiments, ferrule 1500 is adapted to optically coupleto an optical signal carrier and transfer an optical signal carried bythe optical signal carrier to a mating ferrule. The optical signalcarrier may include a portion (corresponding to portions 349 a and 349b, for example) that may be or may include at least one of an opticalwaveguide, an optoelectronic device, an optical detector, an opticalemitter, and/or an optical element which may be or may include one ormore prisms, or one or more optical filters, or one or more opticalwaveguides, for example. In some embodiments, ferrule 1500 includes atleast one light redirecting element for receiving light along a lengthdirection (z-direction) of the ferrule and redirecting the receivedlight along a thickness direction (y-direction) of the ferrule 1500. Thelight redirecting elements may correspond to any of the lightredirecting elements described elsewhere herein.

In some embodiments, ferrule 1500 is hermaphroditic and in someembodiments, ferrule 1500 is unitary. In some embodiments, when ferrule1500 is mated with a mating ferrule, which may have the same size andshape as ferrule 1500, the first and second features 1501 and 1511 ofthe ferrule 1500 and first and second features of the mating ferrule mayguide the ferrule 1500 and the mating ferrule into alignment with oneanother when the ferrule 1500 and the mating ferrule are misaligned.

In some embodiments, a connector is provided that includes a housing andat least one ferrule 1500 disposed at least partially inside thehousing. For example, any or all of ferrules 200-1, 200-2, 200-C, or 300a and 300 b in FIGS. 2A-3C can be replaced in their respective housingswith ferrule 1500.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of first and second optical ferrules 1600a and 1600 b. First and second optical ferrules 1600 a and 1600 b may behermaphroditic, may be unitary, and may have substantially the same sizeand shape. First optical ferrule 1600 a is adapted to mate with secondoptical ferrule 1600 b along a length direction 1659 (direction alongthe length dimension of first ferrule 1600 a), which is a matingdirection of the ferrules, and along the orthogonal thickness direction1669 (direction along the thickness dimension of first ferrule 1600 a),which is also a mating direction for the ferrules.

First optical ferrule 1600 a includes waveguide alignment member 1652 aand light redirecting member 1655 a which may correspond to anywaveguide alignment members and light redirecting members, respectively,described elsewhere herein. First optical ferrule 1600 a may alsoinclude an optical window on an opposite side of the first opticalferrule 1600 a from the light redirecting member 1655 a. Second opticalferrule 1600 b includes an optical window 1695 b and may also include alight redirecting member on an opposite side of the second opticalferrule 1600 b from the optical window 1695 b. The optical windows 1695b and/or a corresponding optical window of first optical ferrule 1600 amay be coated with an antireflective coating.

The first alignment feature 1601 a of the first optical ferrule 1600 ais adapted to contact a corresponding alignment feature (secondalignment feature 1611 b) of the second optical ferrule 1600 b at afirst contact region 1681 a of the first alignment feature 1601 a, andthe second alignment feature 1611 a of the first optical ferrule 1600 ais adapted to contact a corresponding alignment feature (first alignmentfeature 1601 b) of the second optical ferrule 1600 b at a second contactregion 1683 a of the second alignment feature 1611 a. In someembodiments, the first and second contact regions 1681 a and 1683 a areoffset relative to one another along at least the length and thicknessdirections 1659 and 1669 of the first optical ferrule 1600 a. Similarly,the first alignment feature 1601 b of the second optical ferrule 1600 bis adapted to contact a corresponding alignment feature (secondalignment feature 1611 a) of the first optical ferrule 1600 a at a firstcontact region 1681 b of the first alignment feature 1601 b, and thesecond alignment feature 1611 b of the second optical ferrule 1600 b isadapted to contact a corresponding alignment feature (first alignmentfeature 1601 a) of the first optical ferrule 1600 a at a second contactregion 1683 b of the second alignment feature 1611 b. In someembodiments, the first and second contact regions 1681 b and 1683 b areoffset relative to one another along at least the length and thicknessdimensions of the second optical ferrule 1600 b.

FIG. 17A is a perspective view of ferrule assembly 1705 including firstoptical ferrule 1700 a mated to second optical ferrule 1700 b. Secondoptical ferrule 1700 b is shown as semi-transparent for ease ofillustration. The first optical ferrule 1700 a has length dimension 1759and an orthogonal thickness dimension 1769 along orthogonal length andthickness directions. Second optical ferrule 1700 b similarly hasorthogonal length and thickness dimensions. FIG. 17B is a perspectiveview showing the first and second optical ferrules 1700 a and 1700 bseparated along the length dimension 1759 from the fully matedconfiguration of FIG. 17A. FIG. 17C is a perspective view showing thefirst and second optical ferrules 1700 a and 1700 b separated along thethickness dimension 1769 from the fully mated configuration of FIG. 17A.

In some embodiments, first optical ferrule 1700 a is adapted to matewith the second optical ferrule 1700 b along each of the length andthickness dimensions 1759 and 1769 of the optical ferrule 1700 a. Inother words, first and second optical ferrules 1700 a and 1700 b canapproach the mated position shown in FIG. 17A by moving the ferrulestogether along the thickness dimension 1769 (e.g., moving the opticalferrules 1700 a and 1700 b from the configuration of FIG. 17C to theconfiguration shown in FIG. 17A along the thickness dimension 1769)and/or by moving the ferrules together along the length dimension 1759(e.g., moving the optical ferrules 1700 a and 1700 b from theconfiguration of FIG. 17B to the configuration shown in FIG. 17A alongthe length dimension 1759). The first and second optical ferrules 1700 aand 1700 b can also approach the mated position shown in FIG. 17A bymoving the ferrules together along a direction intermediate between adirection of the thickness dimension 1769 and a direction of the lengthdimension 1759. When mated, the first optical ferrule 1700 a is adaptedto unmate from the second optical ferrule 1700 b via movement of thefirst optical ferrule 1700 a relative to the second optical ferrule 1700b along orthogonal first and second dimensions. For example, the opticalferrules 1700 a and 1700 b in the mated configuration shown in FIG. 17Acan be separated along the length dimension 1759 resulting in theseparated configuration shown in FIG. 17B or the optical ferrules 1700 aand 1700 b can be separated along the thickness dimension 1769 resultingin the separated configuration shown in FIG. 17C. The first and secondoptical ferrules 1700 a and 1700 b can also be separated from the matedposition shown in FIG. 17A by moving the ferrules apart along adirection intermediate between a direction along the thickness dimension1769 and a direction along the length dimension 1759. The first opticalferrule 1700 a includes first and second alignment features 1701 a and1711 a and the second optical ferrule 1700 b includes first and secondalignment features 1701 b and 1711 b. The first alignment feature 1701 aof the first optical ferrule 1700 a is adapted to contact acorresponding alignment feature (second alignment feature 1711 b) of thesecond optical ferrule 1700 b at a first contact region 1781 a of thefirst alignment feature 1701 a, and the second alignment feature 1711 aof the first optical ferrule 1700 a is adapted to contact acorresponding alignment feature (first alignment feature 1701 b) of thesecond optical ferrule 1700 b at a second contact region 1783 a of thesecond alignment feature 1711 a. In some embodiments, the first andsecond contact regions 1781 a and 1783 a are offset relative to oneanother along at least the length and thickness dimensions 1759 and 1769of the optical ferrule 1700 a.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are top and bottom perspective views, respectively, ofoptical ferrule 1800 which includes first and second alignment features1801 and 1811. Optical ferrule 1800 includes a waveguide alignmentmember 1852 and light redirecting member 1855 which may correspond toany waveguide alignment members and light redirecting members,respectively, described elsewhere herein. Optical ferrule includes anoptical window 1895, e.g., a recessed optical window, opposite the lightredirecting member 1855. Optical window 1895 may be coated with anantireflective coating.

The first alignment feature 1801 of the optical ferrule 1800 is adaptedto contact a corresponding alignment feature (which may have the sizeand shape of second alignment feature 1811) of a mating optical ferrule.Similarly, the second alignment feature 1811 of the optical ferrule 1800is adapted to contact a corresponding alignment feature (which may havethe size and shape of first alignment feature 1801) of a mating opticalferrule. First alignment feature 1801 contacts the correspondingalignment feature of the mating optical ferrule at a first contactregion 1881, and second alignment feature 1811 contacts thecorresponding alignment feature of the mating optical ferrule at asecond contact region 1883. The first and second contact regions 1881and 1883 are offset relative to one another along at least first andsecond axes 1859 and 1869 which are along a length dimension and athickness dimension, respectively, of optical ferrule 1800. The firstand second alignment features 1801 and 1811 are located at substantiallydifferent locations along the length dimension.

The optical ferrule 1800 may be adapted to mate with a mating opticalferrule along both the length and the thickness dimensions. This isillustrated in FIGS. 18C-18D which are perspective views of opticalferrule 1800 a and mating optical ferrule 1800 b, each of which maycorrespond to optical ferrule 1800. In FIG. 18C, the optical ferrule1800 a and the mating optical ferrule 1800 b are separated along axis1859 which is along a length dimension of the optical ferrule 1800 a andthe mating optical ferrule 1800 b. The optical ferrule 1800 a and themating optical ferrule 1800 b can be mated along the first matingdirection 1889-1, which is parallel to the axis 1859, by movement of theoptical ferrule 1800 a and the mating optical ferrule 1800 b togetheralong the first mating direction 1889-1. In FIG. 18D, the opticalferrule 1800 a and the mating optical ferrule 1800 b are separated alongaxis 1869 which is along a thickness dimension of the optical ferrule1800 a and the mating optical ferrule 1800 b. The optical ferrule 1800 aand the mating optical ferrule 1800 b can be mated along the secondmating direction 1889-2, which is parallel to the axis 1869, by movementof the optical ferrule 1800 a and the mating optical ferrule 1800 btogether along the second mating direction 1889-2. Similarly, once theoptical ferrule 1800 a and the mating optical ferrule 1800 b are mated,the ferrules can be unmated by movement of the ferrules apart from oneanother along either of the orthogonal first and second matingdirections 1889-1 and 1889-2.

FIG. 24A is a top perspective view of first optical ferrule 2400 a, andFIG. 24B is a perspective view of first and second optical ferrules 2400a and 2400 b, which may be substantially identical hermaphroditicferrules. Optical ferrule 2400 a includes body 2410, first alignmentfeature 2401 a, forward stops 2421 a and 2423 a (see FIG. 24B),waveguide alignment member 2452, light redirecting member 2455, and asecond alignment feature (not illustrated). First alignment feature 2401a includes spaced apart first and second portions 2420 and 2430 andcentral portion 2425. First axis 2459 is along a length dimension of thefirst optical ferrule 2400 a and second axis 2469 is along a thicknessdimension of the first optical ferrule 2400 a. First and second portions2420 and 2430 extend further away from the body 2410 of the firstoptical ferrule 2400 a along a first mating direction (direction alongfirst axis 2459) than the central portion 2425. Second optical ferrule2400 b includes first alignment feature 2401 b, second alignment feature2411 b, forward stops 2421 b and 2423 b, and optical window 2495 b. Thefirst and second alignment features 2401 b and 2411 b are located atsubstantially different locations along the first mating direction.

When the first and second optical ferrules 2400 a and 2400 b are mated,the first and second alignment features of each optical ferrule maysubstantially simultaneously engage corresponding alignment features ofthe other optical ferrule. In some embodiments, the first and secondoptical ferrules 2400 a and 2400 b are adapted to mate and/or unmatealong each of the thickness and length dimensions of the opticalferrules. When the first and second optical ferrules 2400 a and 2400 bare mated, the first alignment feature 2401 a may contact the secondalignment feature 2411 b at a first contact region of the firstalignment feature 2401 a, and the second alignment feature of the firstoptical ferrule 2400 a may contact the first alignment feature 2401 b ata second contact region of the second alignment feature of the firstoptical ferrule 2401 a. The first and second contact regions may beoffset relative to one another along at least the length and thicknessdimensions of the optical ferrules.

In some embodiments, an optical ferrule may include a first alignmentfeature that is made from a material substantially more elastic than themain body of the optical ferrule so that the first alignment feature iscompressible. Alternatively, first alignment feature can be madecompressible by including slits or other openings such that the firstalignment feature can be compressed. Similarly, an optical ferrule mayinclude a second alignment feature that may be made expandable byutilizing a substantially more elastic (compared to the body of theoptical ferrule) material to form the second alignment feature, or thesecond alignment feature may be made expandable by including slits oropenings in regions of the optical ferrule proximate an opening definedby the second alignment feature.

In some embodiments, an optical ferrule may include a first alignmentfeature having a contact region for contacting an alignment feature of amating optical ferrule, and the first alignment feature may include oneor more elastomeric layers adjacent the contact region that allows thefirst alignment feature to be compressible. In some embodiments, anoptical ferrule may include a second alignment feature having a contactregion for contacting an alignment feature of a mating optical ferrule,and the second alignment feature may include one or more elastomericlayers adjacent the contact region that allows the second alignmentfeature to be expandable. The elastomeric layer(s) may be elastomericpads or elastomeric coatings and may be, for example, silicone layer(s)and/or porous elastomer layer(s).

FIG. 19 is a schematic top view of ferrule 1900 including first andsecond alignment features 1901 and 1911. Second alignment feature 1911includes an expandable opening 1913, a first compliant feature 1920disposed on a first side 1917 of the expandable opening 1913, and asecond compliant feature 1930 disposed on a second side 1919 of theopening 1913. Opening 1913 is expandable, at least in part, due to thefirst and second compliant features 1920 and 1930. The first and secondcompliant features 1920 and 1930 may each be an elastomeric layer (e.g.,a silicone or other elastomeric layer). When opening 1913 is in anexpanded state, the first and second compliant features 1920 and 1930may be in a compressed state, and when opening 1913 is in an unexpandedstate, the first and second compliant features 1920 and 1930 may be inan uncompressed state.

FIG. 20 is a schematic top view of ferrule 2000 including first andsecond alignment features 2001 and 2011. Second alignment feature 2011includes a body 2006 having opposing first and second sides 2017 and2019, first compliant feature 2020 disposed on first side 2017, andsecond compliant feature 2030 disposed on second side 2030. Secondalignment feature 2011 is compressible, at least in part, due to thefirst and second compliant features 2020 and 2030. The first and secondcompliant features 2020 and 2030 may each be an elastomeric layer (e.g.,a silicone or other elastomeric layer as described elsewhere herein).When the second alignment feature 2011 is in a compressed state, thefirst and second compliant features 2020 and 2030 may be in a compressedstate, and when the second alignment feature 2011 is in an uncompressedstate, the first and second compliant features 2020 and 2030 may be inan uncompressed state.

In some embodiments of the present description, a ferrule includesopposing first and second compliant features. In some cases, this may bedesired in order to provide a high degree of alignment accuracy. Inother embodiments, the second compliant feature may be omitted.

FIG. 21 is a schematic top view of ferrule 2100 include first and secondalignment features 2101 and 2111. Second alignment feature 2111 includesopposing first and second sides 2117 and 2119 and defines an opening2113 which is expandable, at least in part, due to compliant feature2120. In the illustrated embodiment, compliant feature 2120 is aflexible arm having a fixed end 2122 attached to first side 2117 and anopposite free end 2124. In other embodiments, the compliant feature maybe an elastomeric layer disposed on first side 2117. When opening 2113is in an expanded state, the compliant feature 2120 may be in a flexedstate, and when opening 2113 is in an unexpanded state, the compliantfeature 2120 may be in an unflexed state.

FIG. 22 is a schematic top view of ferrule 2200 include first and secondalignment features 2201 and 2211. Second alignment feature 2211 includesa body 2206 and a compliant feature 2220. Second alignment feature 2211is compressible, at least in part, due to compliant feature 2220. In theillustrated embodiment, compliant feature 2220 is a flexible arm havinga fixed end 2222 attached to a side 2117 of the body 2206 and anopposite free end 2224. In other embodiments, the compliant feature maybe an elastomeric layer disposed on the side 2117. When the secondalignment feature 2211 is in a compressed state, the compliant feature2220 may be in a flexed state, and when the second alignment feature2211 is in an uncompressed state, the compliant feature 2220 may be inan unflexed state.

FIG. 23 is a schematic top view of ferrule assembly 2305 including firstand second optical ferrules 2300 a and 2300 b. First optical ferrule2300 a is adapted to receive light from the plurality of optical fibers2346 a and transmit light to the second optical ferrule 2300 b which isadapted to receive light from first optical ferrule 2300 a and transmitlight to the plurality of optical fibers 2346 b. The ferrule assembly2305 may also operate in reverse of this, receiving light from theplurality of optical fibers 2346 b and transmitting light to theplurality of optical fibers 2346 a. First optical ferrule 2300 aincludes forward stops 2321 a and 2323 a, mating portion 2313 a, andcompliant feature 2320 a, which in the illustrated embodiment is aflexible arm, which can flex away from a body of the optical ferrule2300 a during mating and which has a free end 2324 a and an oppositefixed end 2322 a attached to a side of the body of the optical ferrule2300 a. Similarly, second optical ferrule 2300 b includes forward stops2321 b and 2323 b and includes compliant feature 2320 b, which in theillustrated embodiment is a flexible arm. When the first and secondoptical ferrules 2300 a and 2300 b are fully mated, the forward stops2321 a and 2323 a contact the forward stops 2321 b and 2323 b,respectively; the mating portion 2313 a is stacked with a correspondingmating portion of the second optical ferrule 2300 b in a direction(y-direction) orthogonal to the mating direction; the free end 2324 a ofthe compliant feature 2320 a contacts a side of a body of the secondoptical ferrule 2300 b; and a corresponding free end of a compliantfeature of the second optical ferrule 2300 b contacts a side of a bodyof the first optical ferrule 2300 a. Any of the connector housings,ferrules, alignment frames or other components may be unitary componentsmade by molding. For example, any of ferrule 400, ferrule 500 a, ferrule1000 a, ferrule 1600 a, ferrule 1800, alignment frames 760 or 860,and/or housing 242 may be unitary components made by injection molding.Accordingly, any of the components may comprise an injection moldedpolymer. In some embodiments, a connector housing, a ferrule, or analignment frame may be made by molding two or more parts (e.g., twohalves of a connector housing) and assembling the parts with a permanentadhesive, for example.

Methods of molding a unitary optical ferrule, for example, are describedin co-pending application entitled “Optical Ferrule and Optical FerruleMold” (Provisional Application No. 62/239,996) filed on an even dateherewith and hereby incorporated herein to the extent that it does notcontradict the present description.

The material forming the compliant features and/or the geometry of thecompliant features can be selected to provide a desired alignment forcebetween ferrules. For example, the alignment force provided by thecompliant features can be increased or decreased by choosing a materialfor the compliant features with a higher or lower Young's modulus,respectively. As another example, in embodiments utilizing flexiblearms, the alignment force provided by the flexible arms can be increasedor decreased by choosing larger or smaller cross-sectional areas,respectively, for the flexible arms. Useful alignment forces can beobtained by choosing an injection moldable polymer for both a body ofthe ferrule and the compliant features of the ferrule and by choosing ageometry of the compliant features that can be injection molded alongwith the body of the ferrule. In this way, for example, a unitaryferrule having compliant features that provide a desired alignment forcecan be made.

The following is a list of exemplary embodiments of the presentdescription.

-   Embodiment 1 is an optical ferrule comprising:-   a body comprising an optically transparent portion for propagating    an optical signal therein;-   a first flexible arm having a first fixed end attached to a first    side of the body and an opposite first free end; and-   a second flexible arm, opposite the first flexible arm, having a    second fixed end attached to a second side of the body, opposite the    first side, and an opposite second free end, such that when the    optical ferrule is mated with a mating ferrule, the first and second    flexible arms are flexed away from the respective first and second    sides of the body, and the first and second free ends contact the    mating ferrule.-   Embodiment 2 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 1, wherein the    first and second flexible arms have same flexing properties.-   Embodiment 3 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 1, wherein one of    the first and second flexible arms is more flexible than the other    one of the first and second flexible arms.-   Embodiment 4 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 3, wherein one,    but not the other one, of the first and second flexible arms is    substantially rigid.-   Embodiment 5 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 1, wherein the    first and second flexible arms have different flexing properties.-   Embodiment 6 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 1, such that when    the ferrule is mated with a mating ferrule, the first and second    free ends of the ferrule contact corresponding opposing first and    second sides of the mating ferrule.-   Embodiment 7 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 1, such that when    the ferrule is mated with a mating ferrule along a mating direction,    the ferrule and the mating ferrule are adapted to slide relative to    one another along a first direction different from the mating    direction.-   Embodiment 8 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 7, wherein the    first direction is a lateral direction.-   Embodiment 9 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 1, such that when    the ferrule is mated with a mating ferrule, the ferrule and the    mating ferrule are adapted to slide relative to one another in a    plane substantially parallel to a plane generally defined by the    first and second flexible arms.-   Embodiment 10 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 1, such that when    the optical ferrule is mated with a mating ferrule along a mating    direction and the mating ferrule is misaligned relative to the    ferrule along a direction different from the mating direction, the    flexed first and second flexible arms of the optical ferrule guide    the mating ferrule into alignment with the optical ferrule.-   Embodiment 11 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 1, such that when    the optical ferrule is mated with a mating ferrule along a mating    direction, the mating ferrule being a second optical ferrule    according to embodiment 1, and the mating ferrule is misaligned    relative to the optical ferrule along a direction different from the    mating direction, the flexed first and second flexible arms of the    optical ferrule and the flexed first and second flexible arms of the    mating ferrule cooperatively guide the mating ferrule into alignment    with the optical ferrule.-   Embodiment 12 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 1, such that as    the optical ferrule moves along a mating direction toward a mating    ferrule, the free ends of the flexible arms contact the mating    ferrule, and as the optical ferrule continues to move along the    mating direction toward the mating ferrule, the flexible arms begin    to flex away from the body while remaining in contact with the    mating ferrule, so that the flexible arms are maximally flexed away    from the body when the optical ferrule is mated with the mating    ferrule.-   Embodiment 13 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 1, wherein the    body of the optical ferrule comprises one or more indented features,    such that when the optical ferrule is mated with a mating ferrule,    the mating ferrule being a second optical ferrule according to    embodiment 1, the first and second free ends of the first and second    arms of the mating ferrule are separated by less than a maximum    separation occurring when the optical ferrule and the mating ferrule    are partially mated.-   Embodiment 14 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 1 adapted to be    at least partially disposed in a housing, the housing having a    feature defining a mating direction of the ferrule.-   Embodiment 15 is a connector comprising:-   a housing; and-   the optical ferrule of embodiment 1 disposed at least partially    inside the housing.-   Embodiment 16 is the connector of embodiment 15, wherein the housing    comprises a feature defining a mating direction of the connector.-   Embodiment 17 is a ferrule assembly comprising a first optical    ferrule according to embodiment 1 mated with a second ferrule.-   Embodiment 18 is the ferrule assembly of embodiment 17, wherein the    second ferrule does not have a flexible arm.-   Embodiment 19 is the ferrule assembly of embodiment 17, wherein the    second ferrule includes one or more flexible arms.-   Embodiment 20 is a ferrule assembly comprising a first optical    ferrule according to embodiment 1 mated with a second optical    ferrule according to embodiment 1.-   Embodiment 21 is the ferrule assembly of embodiment 20, wherein for    at least one of the first and second optical ferrules, the first and    second flexible arms have different flexing properties.-   Embodiment 22 is the ferrule assembly of embodiment 20, wherein the    first flexing arms of the first and second optical ferrules have    same first flexing properties, and the second flexing arms of the    first and second optical ferrules have same second flexing    properties different than the first flexing properties.-   Embodiment 23 is the ferrule assembly of embodiment 20, wherein for    the at least one of the first and second optical ferrules, one of    the first and second flexible arms is more flexible than the other    one of the first and second flexible arms.-   Embodiment 24 is the ferrule assembly of embodiment 20, wherein for    the at least one of the first and second optical ferrules, one of    the first and second flexible arms is flexed away more from its    corresponding side of the body and the other one of the first and    second flexible arms is flexed away less from its corresponding side    of the body.-   Embodiment 25 is the ferrule assembly of embodiment 20, wherein one    of the first and second optical ferrules is at least partially    disposed inside a housing of a connector.-   Embodiment 26 is the ferrule assembly of embodiment 20, wherein the    first optical ferrule is at least partially disposed inside a    housing of a first connector, and the second optical ferrule is at    least partially disposed inside a housing of a different second    connector.-   Embodiment 27 is the ferrule assembly of embodiment 20, wherein, in    plan view, the first flexible arm of the first optical ferrule at    least partially overlaps the first flexible arm of the second    optical ferrule, and the second flexible arm of the first optical    ferrule at least partially overlaps the second flexible arm of the    second optical ferrule.-   Embodiment 28 is the ferrule assembly of embodiment 20, wherein, in    plan view, the flexible arms of the first and second optical    ferrules on a same side of the ferrule assembly at least partially    overlap each other.-   Embodiment 29 is the ferrule assembly of embodiment 20, wherein, in    side view, the first flexible arms of the first and second optical    ferrules extend beyond each other, and the second flexible arms of    the first and second ferrules extend beyond each other.-   Embodiment 30 is the ferrule assembly of embodiment 20, wherein, in    side view, the flexible arms of the first and second optical    ferrules on a same side of the ferrule assembly extend beyond each    other.-   Embodiment 31 is the ferrule assembly of embodiment 20, wherein, in    side view, the first flexible arms of the first and second optical    ferrules are vertically offset relative to each other, and the    second flexible arms of the first and second ferrules are vertically    offset relative to each other.-   Embodiment 32 is the ferrule assembly of embodiment 20, wherein, in    side view, the flexible arms of the first and second optical    ferrules on a same side of the ferrule assembly are vertically    offset relative to each other.-   Embodiment 33 is the ferrule assembly of embodiment 20, wherein the    first and second ferrules are adapted to slide relative to one    another along a first direction different from a mating direction of    the first and second optical ferrules.-   Embodiment 34 is the ferrule assembly of embodiment 33, wherein the    first direction is a lateral direction.-   Embodiment 35 is the ferrule assembly of embodiment 20, wherein the    first and second ferrules are adapted to slide relative to one    another in a plane substantially parallel to a plane generally    defined by the first and second flexible arms of the first or second    optical ferrule.-   Embodiment 36 is the ferrule assembly of embodiment 20, such that    when the first and second optical ferrules are misaligned relative    to each other, the flexible arms of the ferrules cooperatively guide    the ferrules into alignment with each other.-   Embodiment 37 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 1 further    comprising a mating portion disposed between the first and second    free ends.-   Embodiment 38 is a ferrule assembly comprising a first optical    ferrule of embodiment 37 mated with a second optical ferrule of    embodiment 37 along a mating direction, wherein the mating portions    of the first and second optical ferrules are stacked in a direction    perpendicular to the mating direction.-   Embodiment 39 is the ferrule assembly of embodiment 38, wherein the    mating portions of the first and second optical ferrules are adapted    to slide relative to each other.-   Embodiment 40 is a connector assembly comprising:-   a first connector comprising:-   a first housing; and-   a first optical ferrule according to embodiment 1 disposed at least    partially inside the first housing; and-   a second connector mated with the first connector and comprising:-   a second housing; and-   a second optical ferrule according to embodiment 1 disposed at least    partially inside the second housing and mated with the first    ferrule, the first and second flexible arms of the first ferrule    flexed away from the respective first and second sides of the body    of the first ferrule, and the first and second free ends of the    flexible arms of the first ferrule contacting the second ferrule,    the first and second flexible arms of the second ferrule flexed away    from the respective first and second sides of the body of the second    ferrule, and the first and second free ends of the flexible arms of    the second ferrule contacting the first ferrule.-   Embodiment 41 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 1 mated with a    mating ferrule.-   Embodiment 42 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 41, wherein the    mating ferrule comprises another optical ferrule of embodiment 1.-   Embodiment 43 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 1 being adapted    to be optically coupled to an optical signal carrier comprising at    least one of an optical waveguide, an optoelectronic device, and an    optical element, and transfer an optical signal carried by the    optical signal carrier to a mating optical ferrule.-   Embodiment 44 is an optical ferrule assembly comprising:-   a first optical signal carrier comprising at least one of an optical    waveguide, an optoelectronic device, and an optical element coupled    to a first optical ferrule according to embodiment 43;-   a second optical signal carrier comprising at least one of an    optical waveguide, an optoelectronic device, and an optical element    coupled to a second optical ferrule according to embodiment 43, the    first optical ferrule mated to the second optical ferrule.-   Embodiment 45 is the optical ferrule assembly of embodiment 44,    wherein each of the first and second optical signal carriers    comprises a plurality of optical waveguides.-   Embodiment 46 is the optical ferrule assembly of embodiment 44,    wherein the first optical signal carrier is an optical waveguide and    the second optical signal carrier is an optical detector.-   Embodiment 47 is the optical ferrule assembly of embodiment 46,    wherein the optical waveguide comprises an optical fiber.-   Embodiment 48 is the optical ferrule assembly of embodiment 47,    wherein the optical fiber is a single-mode optical fiber at a    wavelength in a range from about 1200 nm to about 1700 nm.-   Embodiment 49 is the optical ferrule assembly of embodiment 44,    wherein the first optical signal carrier comprises an optical    emitter optically coupled to an optical element and the second    optical signal carrier comprises an optical waveguide.-   Embodiment 50 is the optical ferrule assembly of embodiment 49,    wherein the optical element comprises an optical waveguide.-   Embodiment 51 is the optical ferrule assembly of embodiment 49,    wherein the optical waveguide is optically coupled to an optical    detector.-   Embodiment 52 is the optical ferrule assembly of embodiment 44,    wherein at least one of the first and second optical signal carriers    comprises at least one of a prism and an optical filter.-   Embodiment 53 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 1 being    hermaphroditic.-   Embodiment 54 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 1 being unitary.-   Embodiment 55 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 1, neither of the    first and second flexible arms extending beyond a front most edge of    the body.-   Embodiment 56 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 1, wherein, in    plan view, the first free end is adjacent to and faces the first    side of the body, and the second free end is adjacent to and faces    the second side of the body.-   Embodiment 57 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 1 having a    greater first separation between the first and second free ends when    the optical ferrule is mated to a mating ferrule, and a smaller    second separation between the first and second free ends when the    optical ferrule is unmated from the mating ferrule.-   Embodiment 58 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 1, such that as    the optical ferrule moves along a mating direction toward a mating    ferrule, the free ends of the flexible arms contact the mating    ferrule, and as the optical ferrule continues to move along the    mating direction toward the mating ferrule, a separation between the    free ends increases and reaches a maximum distance when the ferrule    is mated with the mating ferrule.-   Embodiment 59 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 1, further    comprising one or more latching recesses such that as the optical    ferrule moves along a mating direction toward a mating ferrule, the    mating ferrule another optical ferrule according to embodiment 1,    the free ends of the flexible arms of the mating ferrule contact the    optical ferrule, and as the optical ferrule continues to move along    the mating direction toward the mating ferrule, a separation between    the free ends increases, reaches a maximum distance and then    decreases.-   Embodiment 60 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 1, wherein the    first and second flexing arms have different flexing properties.-   Embodiment 61 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 60, wherein one    of the first and second flexible arms is more flexible than the    other one of the first and second flexible arms.-   Embodiment 62 is an optical connector comprising:-   a housing;-   one or more alignment features attached to the housing for engaging    a corresponding one or more alignment features attached to a housing    of a mating connector; and-   a unitary optical ferrule at least partially disposed within the    housing and comprising:-   an optical waveguide alignment member for receiving, aligning and    permanently attaching to a plurality of optical waveguides;-   a light redirecting member for changing a direction of light    propagating within the optical ferrule; and first and second    flexible alignment features on opposite sides of the optical    ferrule, such that when the connector mates with a mating connector    comprising a mating optical ferrule, the first and second flexible    alignment features flex away from one another and engage the mating    optical ferrule at respective first and second contact points.-   Embodiment 63 is the optical connector of embodiment 62, wherein the    first alignment feature is a first flexible arm having a first fixed    end attached to a first side of a body of the optical ferrule and an    opposite first free end, and the second alignment feature is a    second flexible arm, opposite the first flexible arm, having a    second fixed end attached to a second side of the body, opposite the    first side, and an opposite second free end.-   Embodiment 64 is the optical connector of embodiment 63, wherein the    unitary optical ferrule is an optical ferrule according to any of    embodiments 1 to 14.-   Embodiment 65 is an optical ferrule comprising:

a body; and

-   opposing arms on opposite sides of, and spaced apart from, the body,    each arm having a fixed end attached to the body and an opposite    free end, such that when the optical ferrule is mated with a mating    ferrule, at least one of the arms is flexed away from the body, and    both free ends contact the mating ferrule.-   Embodiment 66 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 65, wherein one    of the arms is substantially more flexible than the other.-   Embodiment 67 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 65, wherein one,    but not both, of the arms is substantially rigid.-   Embodiment 68 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 65, wherein the    body comprises a mating portion disposed between the free ends.-   Embodiment 69 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 68, such that    when the ferrule is mated with another optical ferrule of embodiment    68 and the two optical ferrules are misaligned relative to each    other, the opposing arms of the two optical ferrules cooperatively    direct the two mating portions to slide over each other bringing the    two optical ferrules into alignment with each other.-   Embodiment 70 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 65 being unitary.-   Embodiment 71 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 65 being    hermaphroditic.-   Embodiment 72 is an optical ferrule comprising:-   a body; and-   a first flexible arm having a first fixed end attached to the body    and an opposite first free end adjacent to and spaced apart from the    body, such that when the optical ferrule is mated with a mating    ferrule, the first flexible arm is flexed away from the body, and    the first free end contacts the mating ferrule, the optical ferrule    adapted to receive and transmit light.-   Embodiment 73 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 72, further    comprising a second flexible arm having a second fixed end attached    to the body opposite the first fixed end of the first flexible arm,    and an opposite second free end adjacent to and spaced apart from    the body such that when the optical ferrule is mated with a mating    ferrule, the second flexible arm is flexed away from the body, and    the second free end contacts the mating ferrule.-   Embodiment 74 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 72, further    comprising a mating portion adapted to stack with a corresponding    mating portion of a mating ferrule in a direction perpendicular to a    mating direction of the optical ferrule, the first free end adjacent    to and spaced apart from the mating portion.-   Embodiment 75 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 72, further    comprising one or more forward stops adapted to contact    corresponding forward stops of the mating ferrule when the optical    ferrule is mated with the mating ferrule.-   Embodiment 76 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 72 being unitary.-   Embodiment 77 is the optical ferrule of embodiment 72 being    hermaphroditic.-   Embodiment 78 is an optical connector adapted to mate with a mating    connector along a mating direction in a mating plane, the optical    connector having at least one flexing element such that when the    optical connector is mated with the mating connector, the at least    one flexing element is flexed and makes contact with the mating    connector, and the optical connector and the mating connector are    adapted to slide relative to each other in the mating plane.-   Embodiment 79 is the optical connector of embodiment 78, wherein    when the optical connector is mated with the mating connector, and    the optical connector and the mating connector are misaligned    relative to each other in the mating plane, the flexed flexing    element guides the two optical connectors into alignment with each    other.-   Embodiment 80 is an alignment frame for facilitating a mating of a    first ferrule to a second ferrule along a mating direction,    comprising:-   a base;-   opposing first and second arms extending forwardly from opposing    ends of the base;-   spaced apart first and second flexible features disposed on an inner    surface of the first arm and facing the second arm; and-   spaced apart third and fourth flexible features disposed on an inner    surface of the second arm and facing the first arm, such that when    the alignment frame facilitates a mating of a first ferrule to a    second ferrule resulting in the first ferrule being mated to the    second ferrule, the opposing first and third flexible features are    flexed and in contact with the first ferrule, and the opposing    second and fourth flexible features are flexed and in contact with    the second ferrule.-   Embodiment 81 is the alignment frame of embodiment 80, wherein when    the alignment frame facilitates a mating of a first ferrule to a    second ferrule resulting in the first ferrule being mated to the    second ferrule, the first and second flexible features are flexed in    a same first direction, and the second and fourth flexible features    are flexed in a same second direction opposite the first direction.-   Embodiment 82 is the alignment frame of embodiment 80, wherein when    the alignment frame facilitates a mating of a first ferrule to a    second ferrule resulting in the first ferrule being mated to the    second ferrule, the first and second ferrules are disposed, at least    partially, between the first and second arms.-   Embodiment 83 is the alignment frame of embodiment 80, such that    when the alignment frame facilitates a mating of a first ferrule to    a second ferrule resulting in the first ferrule being mated to the    second ferrule, the opposing first and third flexible features are    each flexed outwardly by the first ferrule a first distance and the    opposing second and fourth flexible features are each flexed    outwardly by the second ferrule a second distance greater than the    first distance.-   Embodiment 84 is the alignment frame of embodiment 80, wherein the    first, second, third and fourth flexible features lie substantially    in a same plane.-   Embodiment 85 is the alignment frame of embodiment 80, such that    when the alignment frame facilitates a mating of a first ferrule to    a second ferrule along a mating direction resulting in the first    ferrule being mated to the second ferrule, a plane perpendicular to    the mating direction and connecting the second and fourth flexible    features intersects both the first and second ferrules, and a plane    perpendicular to the mating direction and connecting the first and    third flexible features intersects only the first ferrule.-   Embodiment 86 is the alignment frame of embodiment 80, wherein the    first and second flexible features have different flexing    properties.-   Embodiment 87 is the alignment frame of embodiment 80, wherein the    third and fourth flexible features have different flexing    properties.-   Embodiment 88 is the alignment frame of embodiment 80, wherein the    first flexible feature is disposed on a first portion of the first    arm closer to the base and the second flexible feature is disposed    on a second portion of the first arm farther from the base, the    first and second portions of the first arm having different flexing    properties.-   Embodiment 89 is the alignment frame of embodiment 80, wherein the    third flexible feature is disposed on a first portion of the second    arm closer to the base and the fourth flexible feature is disposed    on a second portion of the second arm farther from the base, the    first and second portions of the second arm having different flexing    properties.-   Embodiment 90 is the alignment frame of embodiment 80, wherein the    first and second flexible features lie on a first straight line    substantially parallel to the mating direction, and the third and    fourth flexible features lie on a second straight line different    than and substantially parallel to the first straight line.-   Embodiment 91 is the alignment frame of embodiment 80, wherein the    first and third flexible features lie on a first straight line    substantially perpendicular to the mating direction, and the second    and fourth flexible features lie on a second straight line different    than and substantially parallel to the first straight line.-   Embodiment 92 is the alignment frame of embodiment 80, wherein the    first and third flexible features have substantially same first    flexing properties, and the second and fourth flexible features have    substantially same second flexing properties.-   Embodiment 93 is the alignment frame of embodiment 92, wherein the    second flexing properties are different than the first flexing    properties.-   Embodiment 94 is the alignment frame of embodiment 92, wherein the    second flexing properties are substantially the same as the first    flexing properties.-   Embodiment 95 is the alignment frame of embodiment 80, such that    when the alignment frame facilitates a mating of a first ferrule to    a second ferrule resulting in the first ferrule being mated to the    second ferrule, the opposing first and third flexible features are    flexed and in contact with corresponding inflexible features on the    first ferrule, and the opposing second and fourth flexible features    are flexed and in contact with corresponding inflexible features on    the second ferrule.-   Embodiment 96 is the alignment frame of embodiment 80, wherein each    of the first and second flexible features is flexible, at least in    part, by virtue of the first arm being flexible, and each of the    third and fourth flexible features is flexible, at least in part, by    virtue of the second arm being flexible.-   Embodiment 97 is the alignment frame of embodiment 80, wherein a    front portion of each arm splits into upper and lower beams, such    that each of the first and second flexile features is disposed on an    inner surface of a different flexible beam of the first flexible    arm, and each of the third and fourth flexile features is disposed    on an inner surface of a different flexible beam of the second    flexible arm.-   Embodiment 98 is the alignment frame of embodiment 97, wherein each    of the first and second flexible features is flexible, at least in    part, by virtue of the upper and lower beams of the first arm being    flexible, and each of the third and fourth flexible features is    flexible, at least in part, by virtue of the upper and lower beams    of the second arm being flexible.-   Embodiment 99 is the alignment frame of embodiment 98, such that    when the alignment frame facilitates a mating of a first ferrule to    a second ferrule resulting in the first ferrule being mated to the    second ferrule, the upper beams of the first and second flexible    arms are flexed and in contact with corresponding inflexible    features on the first ferrule, and the lower beams of the first and    second flexible arms are flexed and in contact with corresponding    inflexible features on the second ferrule.-   Embodiment 100 is the alignment frame of embodiment 80, wherein when    the alignment frame facilitates a mating of a first ferrule to a    second ferrule along a mating direction in a mating plane resulting    in the first ferrule being mated to the second ferrule, and the    first and second ferrules are misaligned relative to each other in    the mating plane, the first, second, third and fourth flexible    features cooperatively guide the first and second ferrules into    alignment with each other.

Descriptions for elements in figures should be understood to applyequally to corresponding elements in other figures, unless indicatedotherwise. Although specific embodiments have been illustrated anddescribed herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill inthe art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementationscan be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and describedwithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Thisapplication is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of thespecific embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended thatthis disclosure be limited only by the claims and the equivalentsthereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hermaphroditic optical ferrule comprising: abody comprising an optically transparent portion for propagating anoptical signal therein; a first flexible arm having a first fixed endattached to a first side of the body and an opposite first free end; anda second flexible arm, opposite the first flexible arm, having a secondfixed end attached to a second side of the body, opposite the firstside, and an opposite second free end, such that when the opticalferrule is in a fully mated position with an identical mating ferrule,the first and second flexible arms are flexed away from the respectivefirst and second sides of the body, and the first and second free endscontact the mating ferrule, but do not engage corresponding latchingfeatures on the mating ferrule.
 2. The optical ferrule of claim 1,wherein the first and second flexible arms have same flexing properties.3. The optical ferrule of claim 1, wherein the first and second flexiblearms have different flexing properties.
 4. The optical ferrule of claim1, such that when the optical ferrule is mated with a mating ferrulealong a mating direction, the mating ferrule being a second opticalferrule according to claim 1, and the mating ferrule is misalignedrelative to the optical ferrule along a direction different from themating direction, the flexed first and second flexible arms of theoptical ferrule and the flexed first and second flexible arms of themating ferrule cooperatively guide the mating ferrule into alignmentwith the optical ferrule.
 5. A connector assembly comprising: a firstconnector comprising: a first housing; and a first optical ferruleaccording to claim 1 disposed at least partially inside the firsthousing; and a second connector mated with the first connector andcomprising: a second housing; and a second optical ferrule according toclaim 1 disposed at least partially inside the second housing and matedwith the first ferrule, the first and second flexible arms of the firstferrule flexed away from the respective first and second sides of thebody of the first ferrule, and the first and second free ends of theflexible arms of the first ferrule contacting the second ferrule, thefirst and second flexible arms of the second ferrule flexed away fromthe respective first and second sides of the body of the second ferrule,and the first and second free ends of the flexible arms of the secondferrule contacting the first ferrule.
 6. The optical ferrule of claim 1being unitary.